Austin, Texas - Chuy's Parade, Saturday Nov 30, who's in?

Parade Rules and Regulations you must adhere to:

1. By completing an application to participate in the 2013 Children Giving to Children Parade you understand that not all applicants will be selected for participation.

2. Chuy’s reserves the right to accept or reject any parade unit application. Each entry shall be in good taste and shall, in the opinion of the Parade Committee, add beauty or entertainment. Participants must wear appropriate attire in theme with their entry, group, or corporation.  If group includes parents/chaperones/sponsors, these individuals must wear coordinating attire or will be asked to leave the Parade route.  If additional members are unable to wear matching attire, they must wait at the Parade staging or destaging areas for their group.

3. Any additions or changes made to parade units after acceptance must be approved by the Parade Committee. Parade units with changes that have not been approved will not be allowed on the parade route.

4. Unit leaders accept responsibility for the behavior of their members

5. No vehicles are allowed on the parade route with participating units unless approved by the Parade Committee, and no outside logos or sponsors should be advertised on those vehicles, without the approval of the Parade Committee.

6. Parade participants are not allowed to distribute candy, pamphlets or other materials along the parade route.  Participants found tossing materials to spectators will be removed from the parade route and are subjects to the laws of the City of Austin.  This is incredibly important to the safety of all spectators – because of the child focused nature of the event and the moving entries, this ensures that no young spectators will be injured and will only enter the streets during the official toy giving time.

7. Parade Participants must keep pace with the line of march. All units must maintain forward motion during the parade. No counter marching or other maneuver contrary to the forward progress of the parade is allowed. Set spacing must be maintained at all times.  In addition, participants are asked not to encourage spectators to come into the street for toy giving during the procession.  Parade volunteers will do this at the official time, and anything other than that time is confusing and opens the possibility of injury to children.   

8. Parade units are NOT to stop in the television zone unless otherwise directed. Keep a forward motion at all times.

9. The Parade Staff reserves the right to remove any unit from the line of march for any reason or cause without advance notice.

10. Parade units will follow instructions from Parade Staff and Volunteers.

11. Use of any political sign, social or political material, or improper use of the American flag is not permitted. “Proper” use of the flag is based upon U.S. flag policy set forth in the U.S. Code.

12. Dress for all participants must be professional in nature – groups should dress according to the theme of their entry, in corporate/organizational uniforms or with a holiday theme.  Anyone walking with the group must be attired accordingly.  In addition, THERE SHOULD BE NO ONE DRESSED AS SANTA IN ANY GROUP.  There is one traditional Santa in the parade (on the Chuy’s float) and one Blue Santa (as part of the Operation Blue Santa group).  Additional Santas are confusing and upsetting to young children, so anyone dressed as Santa on Parade morning will be asked to change attire or be removed from the procession.

The only thing I'm taking away from the above is that I suddenly have an overpowering urge to do a flash mob of Santa Clauses, like 100 or more, right through this mysterious event...

Hmm. I've always said the pickup bed of the 944 would make it a good parade car.

You, sir, ought to stick around for Santa Rampage. Thousands of Santas descend upon 6th Street. Mwahahaha.

Great news, I got word today from the parade director and they want to have us in the parade!  I'm supposed to talk with her this Thursday on the details.

So, who all can get a racecar to downtown Austin for the parade (Nov 30)?  Post a pic here so I can forward if needed, let me know if the car can make it under its own power at slow speed through the parade route downtown.  If you want to have the car on a flatbed, that can work too, but I'll need to know that in advance.

What drivers can we get down there?  Full race gear, minus neck restraint (unless you're driving the race car, then you can wear neck restraint if you want to).

Remember, this is a family/kid friendly parade, so if your car has a theme or slogans (which can't be covered over) that don't fit this, it may not be a good fit for this event.

The parade is limited on available space, so I'll need to get a good count by this Wednesday, Oct. 16.  I'm also checking into a few local print shops to see what it will take to get a banner printed up, so we look all official and everything.

If it's a concern that the car might break down during the parade, then better to have it trailered. I think we'd want to have at least 2-3 cars under their own power though for this to work.

Adding a seat shouldn't be an issue, as far as I know just people generically hanging off the car might be OK too, but I will confirm that.

If I can't get three cars to commit by this Wednesday, we may have to put this off for this year.

As long as they look LeMony. 

OK, I've heard from three folks with cars in the area, none are currently running, only one seemed likely to be running by the time of the parade.  I've sent out a few more forum emails to anyone I could track down in the area, I'll see what emails show up by tonight.