2026 National Peanut Festival Parade

Saturday, November 14, 2026
9:00 a.m.

Parade Rules and Regulations

1. The National Peanut Festival is celebrating its 82nd year. The 2026 Festival theme is “Ease On Down the Row.”
2. The deadline to submit parade entry forms is Friday, October 2, 2026. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted. All applications are subject to review, and submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. Parade lineup positions will be emailed by October 28, 2026.
3. All parade entries must be approved by the National Peanut Festival.
4. All commercial entries must be floats. Commercial entries will be charged a $125 entry fee, which must be paid in full by October 2, 2026. Entry fees are nonrefundable unless the application is rejected by the National Peanut Festival.
5. Entry fees and float payments may be made by cash, business check, cashier’s check, money order or an approved online payment method. Checks must be made payable to the National Peanut Festival or NPF.
6. Each entry must be submitted on an official parade entry form. Where applicable, submissions must include:A. Completed application
   B. Signed liability disclaimer
   C. Entry fee for commercial entries
   D. Float sketch
7. The National Peanut Festival reserves the right to determine the placement of all parade units. Placement will be arranged to provide the safest, most enjoyable and smooth-running parade possible.
8. Walking units do not have an age restriction. However, every participant must be physically able to walk the entire parade route without assistance from carts, buggies, strollers or similar devices.
9. All automobile identification signs will be furnished by the National Peanut Festival.
10. The City of Dothan is permitting parade participants to distribute throws in 2026. However, each unit distributing throws must have two walkers on each side of the unit.
11. Solicitation of funds is prohibited along the parade route.
12. Participants may not dismount their units to greet or walk among spectators. Violators will be removed from the parade by parade marshals.

Floats

1. The cost of a basic float from the NPF Float Builder is $1,400. A limited number of floats are available. Checks must be made payable to the National Peanut Festival or NPF.
2. Floats ordered from the NPF Float Builder must be ordered and paid for in full by Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

A meeting with the float builder will be held Tuesday, September 15, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the NPF Office Board Room.

Any pageant sponsor who fails to pay the entire float fee by the deadline may cause the sponsor’s 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.

Requirements for All Floats

A. Each float must be submitted on an official parade entry form accompanied by a signed liability disclaimer.

B. Each float entry must provide its own vehicle to pull the float. Liability insurance is required for the vehicle pulling the float. Proof of insurance may be provided when the float is delivered to the assembly point.

C. Each float trailer must have working taillights or flashers. If the lights are covered by decorations, alternative working lights must be provided, especially if the float will travel after dark.

D. Floats must be at least 15 feet but no more than 30 feet in length. Floats may not exceed 13 feet in height, measured from the ground to the highest point.

E. Floats may be pulled only by a tractor, truck, SUV or personal vehicle.

F. All float riders must remain seated or stationary while the float is moving.

G. Floats must be at the Houston County Farm Center assembly point and completely finished by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026, so they can be judged and placed in parade lineup.

H. Throws are permitted in 2026. However, each float distributing throws must have two walkers on each side of the float.

I. Privately built floats are not required to return to the assembly point following the parade. Floats traveling after dark must have working taillights or flashers.

Float Rider Instructions

All float riders must be at the parade route by 8:00 a.m. and must know their assigned unit number.

Enter Highway 84 East at Southeast Health and travel west until directed by a parade marshal.

Float riders will dismount at Kirkland’s on Main Street and must be picked up immediately.

For safety reasons, riders must not get off a float until they receive assistance from a parade official.

1. Floats will be judged according to the following criteria:

1. The President’s Award for Best Overall Float will receive $2,500.
2. The Carver Award for the best use of peanuts or peanut products will receive $2,000.

Bands

1. Each participating band will receive $1,000 to help offset transportation and bus-driver costs. Bands will compete during the parade in two categories.
2. Each participating band member will receive a complimentary admission ticket to the National Peanut Festival. Band directors or their designated representatives may pick up these tickets at the NPF Office beginning October 26, 2026.
3. Band lineup time is 7:30 a.m. on Highway 84 East. Band directors and bus drivers must follow the instructions of parade marshals concerning bus parking.

High School ROTC Units

1. Each ROTC unit must have at least 12 members. Each participating member will receive a complimentary NPF admission ticket at the parade.
2. ROTC units may not stop while traveling along the parade route.
3. Each ROTC unit should be preceded by its own color guard.
4. ROTC units will assemble at 7:30 a.m. at a location to be determined.

Military Units

1. Military units from Fort Novosel will be escorted to the lineup area by the Dothan Police Department.
2. Military units will assemble at the Dothan Civic Center parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Special parking will be designated for their vehicles.

Walking Units

1. Walking units must consist of nonprofit organizations or business characters or mascots specifically invited by the National Peanut Festival.

Costumes, uniforms or matching outfits are required. Entries must provide entertainment value, as determined by the National Peanut Festival Board of Trustees.

All walking units must march the entire length of the parade route.

• Cheerleaders will line up and march with their bands.
• All other walking units will be assigned a parade unit number.

Special Guests

1. Current national or state officeholders may be invited to participate.
2. Area mayors and members of the Dothan City Commission and Houston County Commission may be invited to participate.
3. Other dignitaries may participate by invitation of the National Peanut Festival Board of Trustees.

Special guests will be asked to choose whether they wish to ride in the parade or watch from the VIP seating area. Shuttle transportation will not be provided between the parade lineup and VIP seating areas.

VIP seating will be located in front of The Forum. Parking will be available in The Forum parking lot. Guests must enter from South Lena Street and follow the signs to the alley entrance.

Vehicles for special guests must be in place by 7:15 a.m. VIP refreshments will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Special Instructions for All Participants

• All float riders must be picked up at Kirkland’s on Main Street immediately following the parade.
• Parade marshals wearing bright orange vests will be stationed along every block of the parade route and will be available to assist participants.

2026 Parade Route

The 2026 parade will follow the traditional Main Street route.

The parade will begin on East Main Street, proceed west along Main Street and end at the corner of West Main Street and Park Avenue.

Units will disband between First Methodist Church and Kirkland’s. To allow parade units to disband safely, the road closure will remain in effect from the corner of Park and Main through Park and Woodland.

Parade staging will continue in the same manner as in previous years.