Black Culture Foundation Inc. – Annual Black History Parade
Participant Terms of Service, Rules & Liability Agreement
By submitting this entry form and checking the "We Agree" box, the applicant, designated group leader, and all associated participants, performers, drivers, and chaperones (collectively referred to as the "Participant") agree to adhere to the following Terms of Service, Parade Regulations, and Release of Liability established by Black Culture Foundation Inc. ("Organizer").

1. Application, Entry Fee & Selection
Registration Submission: All requested information—including accurate contact details, category selection, and group counts—must be submitted in full. Submission of an application does not guarantee automatic acceptance into the parade.

Entry Fee: A non-refundable entry fee of $50.00 must accompany each unit entry. Entry fees contribute directly toward municipal permitting, event staging, logistics, and safety operations.

Refund Policy: Entry fees are strictly non-refundable, including in circumstances of participant cancellation, disqualification for violation of rules, or event postponement/cancellation caused by severe weather, public safety emergencies, or force majeure events.

2. Check-In, Staging & Lineup Logistics
Staging Location: Check-in and unit number assignments are located strictly at the designated Parade Starting Point / Staging Area.

Arrival Times: Participants must arrive during their designated staging window. Failure to arrive and check in by the established cut-off time will result in forfeiture of the assigned lineup position and potential removal from the parade without a refund.

Parade Numbers: The issued parade entry number must be prominently displayed on the front/passenger side of the vehicle, float, banner, or lead member at all times during staging and parade transit.

3. Vehicle, Float & Driver Compliance
Insurance Mandate: Any entry incorporating an automobile, truck, float-towing vehicle, motorcycle, or motorized apparatus must maintain current, active Full Coverage Automobile Liability Insurance. Proof of insurance (a copy of a valid insurance card) and an exterior photograph of the vehicle must be submitted during registration.

Driver Qualifications: All drivers must possess a valid, unexpired driver’s license and be at least 21 years of age. Drivers must remain inside or immediately adjacent to their vehicles throughout the entire staging period.

Float Construction & Vehicle Safety: Floats must be structurally sound, equipped with secure railings for standing riders, and carry a minimum of one charged 5-lb ABC fire extinguisher. Standing float riders must have stable, permanent handholds.

Driving Conduct: Burnouts, excessive engine revving, tire spinning, rapid acceleration, vehicle bouncing/hydraulics in motion, or any erratic vehicle maneuvers along the parade route or in staging areas are strictly prohibited and subject to immediate police citation and event ejection.

4. Equestrian & Animal Units
Waste Mitigation: Any entry featuring horses or other animals must provide a dedicated, uniformed sanitation/pooper-scooper crew equipped with appropriate tools to follow directly behind the unit for the duration of the staging and parade route.

Animal Control: Animals must be fully trained, desensitized to loud music/crowds, and kept under strict physical control at all times. The Organizer reserves the right to remove any animal exhibiting agitated or erratic behavior.

5. Participant Conduct, Safety & Parade Flow
Theme & Decorum: The Black History Parade is a family-oriented community celebration honoring Black culture, history, achievement, and heritage. All performances, music selections, chants, attire, and signage must remain respectful, culturally affirming, and free of profanity, vulgarity, explicit themes, or defamatory messaging.

Distribution of Items (Candy & Handouts): No items (candy, promotional flyers, merchandise) may be thrown or tossed from moving vehicles or floats into the crowd. Handing items directly to spectators along the curbside on foot is permitted only if foot walkers maintain safe pacing and keep crowds out of the roadway.

Forward Motion: All units must maintain continuous forward motion aligned with parade pace. Drill teams, bands, cheer squads, dance groups, and step teams may perform while in forward motion; stationary performance stops are strictly limited to designated judging/review stands for a maximum time specified by the parade marshals.

Chaperones for Youth Entries: Units with minors (dance teams, bands, cheer squads, youth civic groups) must maintain a minimum ratio of one adult chaperone (age 21+) for every ten minors.

6. Prohibited Items & Activities
The following are strictly banned from the parade route, staging areas, and demobilization zones:

Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs.

Firearms, weapons, open flames, fireworks, smoke bombs, or pyrotechnic devices of any kind.

Political campaigning beyond the dignified identification of confirmed elected officials/candidates in assigned categories.

Unauthorized commercial soliciting along the parade route.

7. Media & Likeness Release
By participating, the Participant grants Black Culture Foundation Inc., its assignees, and media partners an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free license to photograph, film, broadcast, and record the Participant’s appearance, performance, likeness, and vehicle/float display for promotional, documentary, educational, and archival purposes across any media formats now known or hereafter developed.

8. Assumption of Risk & Release of Liability
Voluntary Participation: The Participant acknowledges that participation in an outdoor street parade involves inherent risks, including but not limited to moving vehicles, crowd density, physical exertion, weather conditions, tripping hazards, and unpredictable animal behavior.

Waiver & Indemnification: The Participant, on behalf of themselves, their organization, group members, heirs, and representatives, hereby fully releases, waives, discharges, holds harmless, and agrees to indemnify Black Culture Foundation Inc., its board members, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, city authorities, and municipal sponsors from any and all claims, liabilities, lawsuits, damages, costs, or injuries (including severe bodily injury, death, or property loss) arising out of or related to participation in the event, whether caused by negligence or otherwise.

9. Enforcement & Authority
Parade marshals, event coordinators, and local law enforcement hold absolute authority over parade staging, route safety, and unit flow. Non-compliance with these terms, refusal to follow parade official instructions, or unsafe operations will result in immediate disqualification, expulsion from the parade line, and potential exclusion from future events hosted by Black Culture Foundation Inc.

10. Acknowledgment & Agreement
By selecting "We Agree" in the registration form, you certify that:

You are authorized to execute this agreement on behalf of the registered organization, vehicle, or entry.

You have read, understand, and agree to enforce all rules and regulations outlined above with all members of your group.

You confirm that all submitted vehicle information and coverage details are accurate and current.