2026 Parade Rules & Regulations Parade Date:
Saturday, November 14, 2026
9:00 A.M.
PARADE RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. The National Peanut Festival is celebrating its 82nd year, and this year’s Festival theme is: “Ease On Down the Row”
2. The deadline for parade entry forms is Friday, October 2, 2026. Any applications received after this date WILL NOT be accepted. All applications will be reviewed; however, receipt of application does not ensure acceptance. Line up positions will be e-mailed by October 28th.
3. All entries must be approved by the National Peanut Festival.
4. ALL COMMERCIAL ENTRIES MUST BE A FLOAT, and will be charged a $125 entry fee. Entry fees must be paid in full by October 2nd. Entry fees are not refundable unless applications are rejected.
5. All entry fees or float payments must be made either with cash, business check, cashier’s check or money order. Please make checks payable to: National Peanut Festival or NPF.
6. Each entry must be submitted on an official parade entry form. Please check to be sure that you have included each of the following (where applicable):
A. APPLICATION
B. SIGNED LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
C. ENTRY FEE (COMMERCIAL ENTRIES ONLY)
D. SKETCH (FLOATS)
7. The National Peanut Festival reserves the right to placement of all parade units. Placement will be determined for the most pleasant, smooth-running parade possible.
8. Walking units no longer require an age limit, but everyone must be able to walk the entire parade route without the assistance of carts, buggies, strollers, etc.
9. All automobile signs will be furnished by the National Peanut Festival.
10. The City of Dothan is allowing throws this year. However, there MUST be two (2) walkers on each side of the unit!
11. There will be NO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS along the parade route.
12. NO ONE WILL DISMOUNT THEIR UNIT TO GREET OR WALK AMONG THE SPECTATORS. VIOLATORS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE PARADE BY PARADE MARSHALS.
FLOATS
13. The cost for a basic float from the NPF Float Builder is $1,400. Checks will be made payable to the National Peanut Festival or NPF. Limited number available.
14. All floats ordered from the Peanut Festival Float Builder, must be ordered and paid for in full by September 15, 2026. Meeting with the float builder is set for Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 9:00 am til 5:00 pm in the office Board Room. Any pageant sponsor who fails to pay their entire float fee by this deadline may cause their contestants to be disqualified from the NPF pageants. "Only cash, business checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, or approved online payment methods will be accepted."
ALL FLOATS
A. MUST BE SUBMITTED ON AN OFFICIAL PARADE ENTRY FORM WITH A SIGNED LIABILITY DISCLAIMER.
B. EACH FLOAT ENTRY MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN VEHICLE TO PULL THEIR FLOAT.
LIABILITY INSURANCE WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE VEHICLE PULLING THE FLOAT. YOU MAY PROVIDE THAT PROOF OF INSURANCE ON SATURDAY, WHEN THE FLOAT IS TAKEN TO THE ASSEMBLY POINT.
C. EACH FLOAT (TRAILER) SHOULD HAVE WORKING TAILLIGHTS OR FLASHERS IF THEY ARE COVERED BY FLOAT DECORATIONS, SINCE SOME MAY BE TRAVELING AFTER DARK.
D. FLOATS MUST BE AT LEAST 15’ AND NOT OVER 30’ IN LENGTH. THEY MAY NOT BE MORE THAN 13’ FROM THE GROUND TO THEIR HIGHEST POINT.
E. FLOATS MAY BE PULLED BY TRACTOR, TRUCK, SUV OR PERSONAL VEHICLE ONLY!
F. RIDERS MUST BE SITTING OR STATIONARY.
G. FLOATS MUST BE AT THE ASSEMBLY POINT, HOUSTON COUNTY FARM CENTER AND COMPLETELY FINISHED BY 11:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2026 TO BE JUDGED AND PLACED FOR PARADE LINE-UP.
H. The City of Dothan is allowing throws this year. However, there MUST be two (2) walkers on each side of the float.
I. IF YOU BUILD YOUR OWN FLOAT, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO RETURN TO THE ASSEMBLY POINT AFTER THE PARADE. BE SURE YOU HAVE TAILLIGHTS OR FLASHERS, IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING HOME AFTER DARK.
ALL FLOAT RIDERS WILL NEED TO BE AT THE PARADE ROUTE BY 8:00 A.M. AND MUST KNOW THEIR UNIT NUMBER. PLEASE ENTER HWY 84 EAST AT SOUTHEAST HEALTH AND DRIVE WEST UNTIL YOU SEE A PARADE MARSHAL.
FLOAT RIDERS WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE FLOATS AT KIRKLAND’S AND WILL NEED TO BE PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY.
FOR SAFETY REASONS, PLEASE DO NOT GET OFF YOUR FLOAT UNTIL YOU GET ASSISTANCE FROM A PARADE OFFICIAL.
15. THE JUDGING CRITERIA FOR FLOATS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
Creativity & Originality ………………………………………………………..…… 30%
Decorative Quality …………………………………………………………..…….... 20%
Use of Theme …………………………………………………………….………….... 20%
Use of Peanuts or Peanut Products (real or artificial) ………………. 30%
16. The “President’s Award” for the Best Overall Float will receive $2,500.
17. The “Carver Award” for the best use of peanuts or peanut products will receive $2,000.
BANDS
18. Each participating band will receive $1000 to help offset the cost of the bus drivers. Bands will be competing during the parade. There will be two category classes.
19. Each participating band member will receive a complimentary ticket to the National Peanut Festival after their performance. These tickets will be available for pick up at the NPF Office by the band director or designated person starting October 26th.
20. BAND LINE-UP TIME IS 7:30 A.M. ON HIGHWAY 84 EAST. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE PARADE MARSHALS ABOUT PARKING YOUR BUSES.
HIGH SCHOOL ROTC UNITS
21. All ROTC units must have a minimum of 12 members. Members will each receive a complimentary NPF ticket at the parade.
22. THERE WILL BE NO STOPPING ON THE PARADE ROUTE.
23. Each unit should be preceded by its own color guard.
24. All ROTC units will assemble in a to-be-determined location at 7:30 A.M.
MILITARY UNITS
25. Military units from Fort Novosel will be escorted to the line-up by Dothan Police.
26. Military units will assemble at the Civic Center Parking Lot at 7:30 A.M. SPECIAL PARKING WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR THEIR VEHICLES.
WALKING UNITS
27. Walking units must be non-profit organizations or characters or mascots of businesses invited by the National Peanut Festival. Costumes, uniforms, or matching outfits are required. Entries must be of entertainment value as determined by the National Peanut Festival Board of Trustees. All walking units will be required to march the entire length of the parade.
* Cheerleaders will line up and March with their bands.
* All other walking units will be assigned a unit number.
SPECIAL GUESTS
28. Any current national or state office holders.
29. Area Mayors, Dothan City & Houston County Commissions.
30. Dignitaries invited by the National Peanut Festival Board of Trustees.
* SPECIAL GUESTS WILL BE ASKED TO DECIDE IF THEY WISH TO RIDE IN THE PARADE OR WATCH THE
PARADE FROM THE VIP SEATING AREA. THERE WILL NOT BE A SHUTTLE TO TRANSPORT FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. VIP SEATING WILL BE IN FRONT OF ‘THE FORUM’. PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THEIR PARKING LOT; HOWEVER, YOU WILL NEED TO ENTER FROM SOUTH LENA AND FOLLOW SIGNS TO THEIR ALLY ENTRANCE. VEHICLES FOR SPECIAL GUESTS WILL NEED TO BE IN PLACE BY 7:15 A.M. VIP REFRESHMENTS BEGIN AT 7:30 A.M.
SPECIAL NOTES TO ALL PARTICIPANTS:
*ALL FLOAT RIDERS WILL NEED TO BE PICKED UP AT KIRKLANDS ON MAIN STREET.
*PARADE MARSHALS, WEARING BRIGHT ORANGE VESTS, WILL BE STATIONED ON EVERY BLOCK AND WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.
2026 PARADE ROUTE
"The 2026 parade route will follow the same route as in previous years, beginning on East Main Street, proceeding down Main Street, and ending at the corner of West Main and Park. Disbanding will occur between First Methodist Church and Kirkland’s. Road closure will remain in effect from the corner of Park and Main down to Park and Woodland to facilitate disbanding. Staging of the parade will continue as it has in the past."