We got the application for the Durham christmas parade. Those losers! There's a $100 application fee for everyone except nonprofit organizations who only walk (i.e. no cars or floats). And every entry has to illustrate the parade theme, which is some lame platitude like "united together under the stars" or something, I forget. What do they think this is, the Macy's parade? It's Durham, for crying out loud. The christmas parade in a sleepy tobacco town. Let's try not to put on airs, shall we?
Needless to say we aren't going to be sending in that $100 application fee anytime soon. It's too bad because last winter I talked to someone at the Durham convention & visitors bureau about the parade, and told her about my car. She sounded really enthusiastic about me driving in the parade this year. She never mentioned anything about huge entry fees or themes that everyone had to represent. Maybe that's just because she works for the convention and visitor's bureau and they're programmed to sound enthusiastic about all things Durham.
Oh well, I guess we'll stick to the christmas parades in smaller towns. Chapel Hill's parade last year was utterly fabulous, and I'd already promised to drive in the Franklintown parade with Deb, and the Clayton parade with my friend Patricia. I guess 3 christmas parades is enough. These are the kinds of parades I like anyway. Low key, no stupid theme (beyond the holidays of course), no entry fees except for businesses, just the community getting together to march down Main Street and throw candy and have some fun.
Which reminds me, I need to contact the Chapel Hill chamber of commerce and make sure I get the application again this year. I'm assuming they automatically send the application to everyone who entered last year, but I want to make sure.
Let's see, any other car news. A friend of mine offered to watch my dogs overnight, so it looks like we'll be able to stay Sunday night in Charlotte after all. Yay! I think my friend Jason is crazy to take on my two dogs, but he insists it will be OK. And you know, maybe I'm just being strangely optimistic but I believe him. Not that my Lina won't fight with Jason's dog -- I'm sure she will -- but he strikes me as the kind of person who can handle it, defuse the situation without too much mayhem.
1 Comments
I am on the parade committee for a medium size texas city. There are several cost that go into preparing for the parade. That is the reason for the entry fees.
You have to have the parade insured in case someone is injured, which is not cheap. There are several other cost that you probably would never think of.
We collect about $4000 each year from entries, but that still isn't enough to cover all cost. We have to get extra funds thru coporate sponsors.