PARADE RULES

• As the applicant for participation as a Parade Entrant, it is your responsibility to ensure that every member of your organization or group is aware of these rules. Any violation may result in immediate elimination from this and future parades. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will be enforcing local laws. Your cooperation in making this a safe and fun event for the community is greatly appreciated.

• PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, Candy and handouts are allowed, but MUST be handed to audience, not thrown or tossed by participants including marchers, floats, and vehicles associated with the entry.

• All entries must be officially approved by the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee (HHISPDPC) prior to the day of the Parade. The HHISPDPC has the right to inspect all entries prior to and during the Parade, and if deemed inappropriate, improper, or unsafe, to remove the entry without refund.

• Each entry must be appropriate for this family-oriented celebration in honor of Saint Patrick and Irish-American heritage and must be decorated in an Irish theme.

• Advocating for or depicting any political organization or controversial issue is not permitted. Only seated official representatives elected by the people are permitted in the parade and are by invitation only. No campaigning or political or controversial messaging is allowed, including flags, buttons, signs, or apparel. The HHISPDPC reserves the right to exclude from participation in the Parade any entry that it considers to be promoting a message inconsistent with or contrary to those of the Parade. Violators will not be allowed to enter the parade route, are subject to a $1,000 fine and their entry fee will not be returned.

• No participant may undertake any dangerous or illegal activities in the Parade.

• No alcohol may be consumed while in the parade route or staging area.

• The driver of each vehicle must be a qualified, licensed driver who is at least 18 years old. The driver must stay with the vehicle at all times.

• All vehicle entries must be covered by liability insurance to the satisfaction of the BCSO and the HHISPDPC. Proof of insurance must be provided at check-in.

• No more than two vehicles per entry will be allowed.

• No vehicle not entered in the parade will be allowed in the staging area or on the parade route. All decorations and supplies must be loaded in the vehicles entered in the parade prior to entering the staging area.

• Pope Avenue will close at 1pm!!! All float entries must be “Parade Ready” no later than 12:30 p.m. to be considered for an award. Any entries arriving late (after 1 pm) may not be allowed into the parade.

• Participants shall clean up any materials or debris used in the staging area by their unit, and will not leave any item behind. All trash must be removed.

• No rollerblades, skates, skateboards, or hoverboards are allowed.

• Children must be supervised by the sponsoring organization at all times.

• Animals must be controlled by means of a harness, halter, or leash, if not otherwise contained and handlers must clean up after them immediately.

• Advertising release: All entries agree to permit the HHISPDPC to use their photograph or video for publicity before, during, and after the event.

• The HHISPDPC and its representatives and sponsors will be held legally harmless in the case of any accidents.

• Parade units violating any of these rules may, at the discretion of the HHISPDPC be removed from the parade without refund, disqualified from awards, and denied entry in future parades.

• Acts of God and Government: Parade Entrants and the HHISPDPC recognize that Acts of God (including weather and pandemics) and Acts of Third Parties (including the Town of Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, State of South Carolina, and U.S. Government) are beyond the control of these parties. To the extent that actions by third parties beyond the control of these parties (including but not limited to Acts of God or Government) preclude or limit the operation of the Parade or its participants, neither party will hold the other responsible for said actions. Both parties agree to abide by the regulations and requirements of the Town of Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, and the State of South Carolina. If the Parade is canceled due to an Act of God or Third Parties that are beyond the control of the parties, Parade Entrants will be not be entitled to a refund of their previously paid parade entry fee from the HHISPDPC.

• Click image to download pdf of Parade Map.

• PARADE ROUTE

• The Parade will step off from the Beach Parking Lot onto Pope Ave across from Lagoon Road. It will continue along Pope Avenue, make a left onto Office Park Road and end at Park Plaza.

• Please be sure to have someone from your group at Park Plaza to pick up any children in a timely fashion. Parking is also available on the outer spaces in the Staples lot to avoid traffic on Greenwood drive.

• STAGING AREA NOTES

• The entrance to the staging area is on South Forest Beach Drive and the parade will begin at the Beach Parking entrance onto Pope Avenue.

• To get to the Staging area: use Pope Avenue, then at Coligny Circle, take the first right onto South Forest Beach Drive. Stay in the right lane and parade coordinators will assist you. ONLY vehicles entered officially in the parade may enter staging. Place all decorations, etc. in the official vehicle prior to entering staging.

• No vehicles will be able to drive into the entrance off Pope Ave.

• NO VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE STAGING AREA UNLESS THEY ARE PART OF THE PARADE. Children, volunteers and participants not arriving in an officially entered parade vehicle must be dropped off at the entry to Lowcountry Celebration Park on Pope Avenue (see Parade Map) PRIOR TO 1PM. Please have members of your group at the dropoff zone to get children in your group to the proper place. Drivers dropping off participants will NOT be allowed to park, this is for dropoff only. Drivers will immediately exit after dropping off and go north on Pope Avenue to park near the parade's end.

• Band buses - see the band bus route on the Parade Route Map. Turn off Pope Avenue onto Nassau Road at Lowcountry Celebration Park and pull up to the Band Bus Dropoff Zone. After your band has disembarked, drivers continue down Nassau Road, turn right onto DeAllyon Avenue, then right onto Cordillo Parkway, left onto Pope Avenue and left onto Office Park Drive to park at the Courtyard Building.

• Arrive as early as possible, no later than 12:00 p.m. The Sheriff’s Department will be rerouting the traffic on Pope Avenue at 1:00 p.m. All participants must be in the Staging Area ready to proceed no later than that time.