Moose Jaw Hometown Fair Calls For Parade Entries
With warm weather and two thirds of May now in the books the Moose Jaw Hometown Fair’s parade - a premier Moose Jaw event- is one month away from heading down Main Street.
Scheduled for 7 pm on Thursday June 20th the Moose Jaw tradition is in the final planning stages.
“The theme for this year’s parade is a ‘Notorious Summer’,” George Fowler general manager of the Moose Jaw Exhibition told MJ Independent.
How to interpret the theme is broad and expansive and up to the parade entrant to decide.
“It’s pretty much anything you would do in the summer that is fun and notorious,” Fowler said.
The parade of Shriners cars at the 2022 Moose Jaw Hometown Fair parade - file photo
With a large portion of the parade preparations nearing completion the next step in the process is find participants to enter.
“For any business or group in the city it’s a great way to show your pride and get exposure,” he said, adding the cost to participate is not extravagant.
“It’s $25 to be in the parade. It helps us cover some of the security costs. We bring in security to have at the intersections so that helps cover some of the cost. Certainly not all of it.”
Everyone entering the parade is required to sign a waiver to hold the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company harmless and also allows the use of any pictures, video or other recordings of the entry.
“It’s because you are in the parade and people are taking your picture.”
Spectators at the 2023 Moose Jaw Hometown Fair parade - file photo
Small details are still being finalized for the parade Fowler said.
Details such as if there is going to be a parade marshall this year and whom it will be if there is.
“That’s still in the works. We have several (under consideration) but I’m not allowed to say,” he said. “There is a couple in the works but it’s not finalized.”
The entry does not cover the cost of the parade and financially the parade loses money but Fowler saw it as an important event and tradition the community looks forward to. So the parade continues on.
Applications to be in the parade can be picked up at the Moose Jaw Exhibition’s office on the fair grounds or online on the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company’s web-site.
The Moose Jaw Humane Society was part of the 2023 edition of the Moose Jaw Hometown Fair parade - file photo
“We require anyone having a float in the parade must have a signed application. You need to confirm you are going to be in the parade and we’ll get back to you and let you know we received your application.”
Years ago the Exhibition Company decided to move to a hired and trained security company as a safety measure. Previously the intersections were staffed by volunteers.
“We just feel better to have security to man each of the intersections…it makes us feel like we are being safer.”
The $25 entry fee helps to recoup some of the thousands of dollars spent to hold the parade.
There will be volunteers working at the parade in other functions.
A child enjoys the 2022 Moose Jaw Hometown Fair parade - file photo
The parade will follow its’ traditional route commencing from the Town and Country Mall, then left on Saskatchewan and a right onto Main Street until Manitoba Street.
For those who wonder if the construction in the 0 block of Main Street North will effect the route at the present time it does not look like it.
If the road is not useable there are contingency plans afoot.
“They (the City of Moose Jaw) are going to keep us in the loop. We may have to turn off on High Street (east)…but we don’t know until we’re closer to the time (of the parade),” he said.
There are a few ground rules the Exhibition Company has to enforce and simply asks parade participants to follow.
A child points at the parade passing by in 2022 - file photo
Although it might have been popular in the past nothing can be thrown to the crowd for safety reasons and it’s a bylaw.
“Handouts can be given out by walking participants.”
It may also seem like harmless fun but “water guns are definitely prohibited” from the floats.
The reason being is “they are worried about someone getting squirted in the face” and not seeing it as funny. Additionally water might hit electronic equipment - example phone or camera - causing damage to it.
The other thing the Exhibition Company asks - something they’ve never had a problem with in the past - participants is that they remember the parade is a family friendly event and keep your entry tasteful.
Other than that the big rule is have a good time and fun.
A float from the 2019 parade - file photo
The pace (tone) of the parade is set by the fire department, police and EMT ambulances who lead the parade.
It’s a balance between not rushing things along, having big gaps and making sure spectators get a look at the parade.
The other traditional part of the parade is that equestrian participants are the back of the parade.
The other thing the Exhibition is striving for is to have a parade with variety as it’s something spectators enjoy.
“There will be a lot of kids clubs and organizations. The Shriners I’m sure will be there with several different groups. We’re not limiting it to certain things.”
He pointed out the entry cost is minimal and as an example a small business may want to work with a local group or sports team to enter the parade.
Additionally the BMX performers from the Moose Jaw Hometown Fair have requested to be in the parade.
Fowler said he is hoping other acts at the fair also participate.
The Moose Jaw Hometown Fair runs June 21 - June 23.
For more information call the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company at (306) 692 - 2723.