Carnival 2023 Parade Entry Sponsor Registration
The Provincetown Business Guild is excited to welcome the LGBTQ+ community and our allies back to Ptown for the return of the Carnival Parade on Thursday, August 17, 2023. The Parade will kick-off from the Harbor Hotel at 3pm and travel its way westward down Commercial Street, dispersing at the Coast Guard Station.
If you would like to be in the Parade, please complete the registration form below. Only submitted registrations will be allowed to be in the Parade. Parade entry applications must be completed by Friday July 28, 2023 at 11:59pm EDT.
The parade starts at the Harbor Hotel (698 Commercial Street) and ends at the Coast Guard Station at the West End of town (125 Commercial Street).
All parade participants must be at the Harbor Hotel at 1p to get in line and organized. The parade will kick off at 3pm sharp.
Commerical Street and all entering streets along the route will be closed by 1:30p.
All floats, self-propelled, and walking entries participating in the Carnival Parade must complete this online entry form below by Friday July 28, 2023. Late registrations will not be accepted. Space for the various categories in the parade is limited, so those who have an interest in participating are encouraged to register early to guarantee a place in the celebration.
Four entry types are available for the parade:
- LARGE FLOAT: $100.00. A large float entry is one where the prime vehicle is an SUV, pickup or large truck with a trailer or flatbed attached.
- Width: At its widest point, the float cannot exceed 9 feet decorated.
- Length: The total length cannot exceed 30 feet to turn corners.
- Height: Cannot exceed 12 feet from the ground to the highest point. to fit under wires and banners.
- SMALL FLOAT: $75.00. A small float entry is one where a motorized vehicle – truck, car, motorcycle or scooter. This includes, but is not limited to, trucks, cars, motorcycles and scooters. This does not include motorized wheelchairs or scooters used by persons with physical disabilities.
- Width and Length: Overall size must not exceed the basic dimensions of truck/car by more than 18 inches on each side.
- Height: Cannot exceed 12 feet from the ground to the highest point. to fit under wires and banners.
- SELF-PROPELLED: $50.00. A self-propelled entry is one that includes participants that propel their vehicles. This includes, but is not limited to, unicycles, bicycles, tricycles, recumbent bikes, conference bikes, pedicabs, pull-carts, rollerblades and skateboards.
- WALKING ENTRY: $25.00. A walking entry is one where all the participants in a group are on foot with no vehicle involved. Motorized wheelchairs or scooters used by differently abled people are included in this category.
Any floats or groups that exceed the size restrictions listed above will need to modify their entry or they will not be allowed to participate.
Registration fees are used to fund the production of the Carnival Parade and cover expenses such as insurance, police protection and rentals.
Payment for all registrations is final. No refunds will be offered.
All participants in the Carnival parade are eligible for prizes. Categories include:
- Best Overall Entry
- Best Thematic Entry in Each Category
- Large Float
- Small Float
- Self Propelled
- Walking Entry
- Best Musical Entry
- Most Queer Entry
- Best Individual Costume
- Best Artist-Matchmaking
Judges will be staffing a reviewing stand at the Provincetown Library and all contingents of the parade will be reviewed as they pass by.
All Floats (Large and Small) and Self-Propelled or Walking Groups with 10 or more people must have four (4) parade wranglers to stand beside each wheel/corner of your group and ensure that no onlookers gets in front of the parade. Wranglers will receive a t-shirt to identify themselves and will be responsible for directing foot traffic away from moving vehicles involved in the parade.
- The PBG requires cell phone access to all of your Parade Wranglers throughout the full duration of the parade.
- The PBG will communicate with you during the parade via text if necessary.
Parade Wranglers are responsible for:
- Safely accompanying floats along the parade route and keeping the wheels clear of parade onlookers and other participating groups
- Communicating with Parade Officials and Police regarding pacing and safety issues and alerts
- Parade Wranglers are NOT considered part of your entry but must be visible in order to have your float enter the parade.
- Parade Wranglers are NOT allowed to carry banners or hand out materials.
Individual Parade Wranglers will be emailed information outlining appropriate attire and rules for participating. The instructions must be read and signed off on by each Parade Wrangler.
If you show up without your wranglers on the day of the parade, you will not be allowed to participate.
No one is going to rain on this Parade – the Carnival extravaganza will happen come rain or come shine (unless local officials deem the circumstances so dangerous that the parade must be dispersed).
NO ALCOHOL is allowed on any float, per Massachusetts state laws. Police and Guild Representatives will inspect all floats at the staging area prior to the start of the parade. Any alcohol that is found on a float or given to a float while the parade is en route will result in the float being removed from the parade via the nearest side street.