NEW FOR THIS YEAR! CHRISTMAS CARD LANE

We’re reinventing the opportunity to make it easier for our area businesses to participate. Say hello to our roughly 6-feet-tall by 3-feet wide Christmas Cards! Each card will proudly display your business logo and a QR code, all framed in Christmas lights. All you need to do is provide us with your logo on a transparent background (and your QR code), and we’ll take care of the rest! That’s right, we take care of all it for you. Click the button below to learn how you can be a part of Christmas Card Lane 2025!

CHRISTMAS CARD LANE INFO

KINSTON CHRISTMAS PARADE - SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2025 5:00 PM

Please read the Christmas Parade Information document attached below in its entirety before filling out and submitting your online registration. After you submit the online form, you’ll need to select the appropriate registration fee to pay from the links below. You must complete the form and pay the fee in order for your space to be reserved. If you have any questions at all regarding registration or payment, please call 252.525.6144.

Registration is $50

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

(###)

###

####

Name of Business/Organization

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Number of Participants Included in your Entry

Name of Entry/Float Theme

WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU! Your details serve 2 purposes. It helps with organizing the parade line-up and provides us with narrative notes for the news crew commentary.

Are you a club, a business, industry, etc.? Do you have a particular theme? Is this the first time in this parade? What drew you to the Kinston Parade? Are you motorized or walking? Vehicle(s), what type? Are you a non-profit/civic organization? What kind? What do you do, where and why? Are you performing? If so, how/in what way?

HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

The undersigned participant and any affiliated persons or entities hereby agree to protect, defend, indemnify and hold Downtown Kinston Revitalization, City of Kinston, their officials, employees and agents, free and harmless from and against any and all losses, penalties, damages, settlements, costs, charges, professional fees or other expenses or liabilities of every kind and arising out of or relating to any and all claims, liens, demands, obligations, actions, proceedings, or causes of action of every kind, whether for property damage, personal injury or death, in connection with or arising out of participation in the below-referenced event and any and all associated activities in accordance therewith and the use of the public property allowed thereby.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

I have read and agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by Downtown Kinston Revitalization on this webpage below.

INSURANCE DISCLAIMER

I understand that Downtown Kinston Revitalization's Parade Insurance DOES NOT cover parade participants in any way.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBIITY OF YOU, THE REGISTRANT, TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF YOUR ENTRANTS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THESE REGULATIONS. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.

PLEASE ADHERE TO THE REGULATIONS FOR SAFETY REASONS AS THIS IS A NIGHTTIME PARADE.

1. FIREARMS - It is illegal to possess/carry a firearm in the parade

2. CAR CHECKS - AT LINEUP, KPD will check all vehicles for an active registration card, proof of valid inspection and insurance to drive in the parade.

3. CANDY - Tossing, throwing, and handing candy or other items is strictly prohibited in the parade. Violators will be asked to provide their information, be removed from the parade.

4. SPECTATORS MUST REMAIN ON THE SIDEWALKS - KPD will have officers on foot to assist with this to make sure spectators remain out of the street for safety reasons and to allow the space the parade requires.

5. KPD - Officers will enforce pedestrians to NOT CROSS THE STREET during the parade (no citations). Either cross before or after the parade passes, not while the parade is rolling.

6. Only pre-registered participants may participate in the parade. There is no on-site registration.

7. Horses are not permitted in the parade.

8. Dogs must be tethered and under the control of an adult (18+) and adherence to leash laws including cleaning up after your dog is required.

9. Children under 12 may not walk in the parade. They must ride and remain on a float unless they are in a lighted bicycle group with adults for the duration of the parade.

10. Keep the parade moving. Performers will help avoid creating gaps in the parade by not stopping to perform.

11. The train does not stop for the parade. It will slow down. Be mindful of this when approaching Queen and Blount Streets. Do not block the tracks.

12. Vehicles must maintain at least one care length between each other and tailgate.

13. All: Do not call anyone from the crowd to your vehicle or group in the parade.

Length of route: approximately 1.3 miles from Grainger Stadium to conclude at E Caswell and McLewean.

Participants can arrange for pick-up at this location or return on foot to Grainger Stadium by way of McLewean to Vernon.

Food and drink are not provided to participants. Please come prepared. Restrooms are available at the stadium.

The parade typically lasts around 2 hours, starting at 5:00 PM.

Lights, lights, and more lights! This is an evening parade, so make sure you are visible and participating in the magical theme of lights. Incorporate as many lights as possible on your floats, rides, costumes, music instruments.

The more festive and magical, the more fun it is.

STAGING begins at 2:00 PM at Grainger Stadium

- Location & Time: 2:00-4:00 pm, Grainger Stadium, 400 E Grainger Ave, Kinston, NC 28501

- Most performers will be located at the front of the parade so arrive early

- Staging is managed by Scott Alston and his Parks & Recreation team

- Scott Alston’s decisions at the staging location are final and your registration indicates agreement.

- Your patience and courtesy is appreciated during the lineup.

CAR CLUBS

- Up to 10 cars can enter under one registration fee.

NO-FEE ENTRIES

- These are limited to First Responders, public officials, and City Public Services

YOUR TEAM CAPTAIN

- The individual registering (named and contact on the entry form) assumes the role of Team Captain and is the primary contact person. AS THE REGISTRTANT AND TEAM CAPTAIN YOU AGREE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR PARADE CREW UNDERSTANDS AND ABIDES BY ALL PARADE REGULATIONS.

SAFETY

- Enlist some volunteers to walk alongside your entry to keep the spectators remain out of the street. This is very important.

- Turning left onto East Caswell may be a tight turn for longer vehicles. Please plan accordingly.

- Do not encourage anyone for any reason to approach you while in the parade

LINE UP NUMBER

Due to the size of the parade, you may not receive your line-up number until the day before the parade. If you do not have yours by then, please contact Scott Alston at Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation, (252) 939-3332.

FLOATS

- Floats should be completed before arrival at Grainger Stadium. Incomplete floats risk disqualification from the parade as determined by the line-up organizer whose decision is final.

- Floats must be constructed so as to remain intact for the duration of the route.

- Because this is an evening parade, be extra cautious of spectators along the parade route. No one wants any mishaps.

LIGHTS

Because the parade theme is Light the Night, and because Neuse News will be live-streaming the parade on Facebook, you will want to make sure spectators and news crew see you in the evening light, so incorporate lights into your presentation even if only glow sticks if those are appropriate for you.

THIS IS A FAMILY PARADE

- NOTHING adult in nature, character or potentially dangerous, offensive may be displayed, performed, or broadcast.

- This is a family Christmas parade, therefore, costumes and performances including dance routines and songs with profanity, offensive or disrespectful lyrics are prohibited. Keep it Christmas and child-friendly.

GENERATORS

- Generators used to power lights and sound systems in the parade should be installed with as much safety concern as possible and also to not detract from the experience of your entry and guests by noise; a quiet generator is preferred. A fire extinguisher should be handy.

MOTORIZED VEHICLE STUNTS

- Please use extreme caution and select your locations with safety in mind.

**Downtown Kinston Revitalization’s parade insurance does not cover parade participants or spectators**

Participants are expected to adhere to these procedures so that we have the most wonderful Kinston Christmas Parade ever and can continue to have safe evening parades.

A completed registration form, a signed Hold Harmless Agreement and payment signifies you have read, understand and agree to adhere to all terms of this document.

Downtown Kinston Revitalization, The City of Kinston, Lenoir County Parks and Recreation, the Neuse News Team/Magic Mile Media, your community, our guests and multi-state social media viewers look forward to seeing you in the parade.

We thank you for your participation in the Kinston Christmas parade. It is YOU who creates the best commUNITY Christmas parade in Lenoir County. Let’s have the most magical parade again and give the children some wonderful parade memories.