San Diego Pride strives to be a fun, safe, and family-friendly event. We, therefore, require all contingents in the parade to adhere to the following rules:
Parade Theme: San Diego Pride (SD Pride) requires all participating contingents to reflect this year’s theme in an acceptable and tasteful manner. The 2024 theme will be announced in Spring 2024.
Forward Motion: All contingents are required to maintain a continuous forward motion during the parade. No stopping unless directed by SD Pride staff. All performances or maneuvers must be “on the move.” NO GAPS between parade units of more than 30 feet.
Emergency Traffic Lane: Police and Fire Department traffic lanes must be kept open at all times. The law forbids parking vehicles, decorating units, practicing routines and / or forming walking groups in these lanes.
Throwing from Your Contingent: Parade participants may not throw any item into the crowds. This means you may not throw items from your unit, float, or auto. Items may be handed out. NOTE: A penalty of $150 for each infraction will be levied. If your entry is pulled from the parade; entry fees will not be refunded or returned.
Contingent Monitor: ALL contingents are required to supply at least one monitor for every 25 participants to assist SD Pride officials while the parade is in progress. Any contingent without a monitor will not be able to participate. Their role is to 1) assist in the safety, specifically keeping the area in front of vehicles clear of pedestrians; 2) assist in the movement and pacing of the parade.
Nudity and Obscenity: Nudity and obscenity are not permitted as defined by California State Code, title 17.04.480, and San Diego ordinance SDMC 56.53(c). Violators may be subject to citation or arrest by the San Diego Police Department.
Solicitation: Contingents are not allowed to solicit money along the parade route.
Signs & Banners: In order to better facilitate parade announcements and TV coverage, a sign or banner providing the name of the organization / business must precede each contingent participating in the parade or the contingent shall have the name prominently displayed on their vehicle. Position number must be attached to your banner or vehicle window or carried by your designated parade liaison, whichever is most visible to announcers and video cameras. Position number should be posted on the upper left of the banner or on the front passenger window for a vehicle.
Animal Contingents: Dogs are the only animals allowed in the parade, and must be included in a way that prioritizes the safety of the animal. Including dogs in your contingent must be disclosed to the Parade team in your registration form. All dogs must be on a leash and attended at all times. Each contingent with dogs must provide clean-up for all waste created by the animals. Waste cannot be left on the streets. Violators will be immediately removed from the staging, parade, or dispersal area and assessed a $150 clean-up fee. All animals are subject to monitoring by the San Diego Humane Society and ASPCA. Please ensure you have water for all animals. Footpads are strongly encouraged for dogs walking on leash; placing dogs in wagons or strollers is highly encouraged. Please review AKC’s guide to protecting dog paws on hot pavement. Consider connecting with long-standing parade contingents such as San Diego Pug Rescue or Frosted Faces Foundation for tips on safely including dogs in your contingent.
NOTE: Service animals are always welcome in any contingent. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions related to service animals in your contingent.
Vehicle Breakdown: Towing charges for any contingent vehicle that becomes disabled and / or delays the Parade will be at the contingent’s expense.
Hold Harmless / Indemnity: All contingents are responsible for any and all acts and / or omissions on their part, or on the part of their agents, marchers, volunteers and / or employees that may result in injury or damage to themselves their agents, marchers, volunteer and / or employees or to third parties. Contingents specifically agrees to indemnify and to hold San Diego Pride and the City of San Diego and its agents, volunteers, and employees free and harmless and to defend it from any and all claims arising out of such acts or omissions.
Insurance & Driver’s License: Each contingent vehicle that enters the parade line-up area and / or participates in the parade must have liability insurance and the driver must have a valid driver’s license, proof of which must be submitted when registering for the parade.
Removal of Participants: San Diego Pride reserves the right to remove any contingent and / or person(s) from the pre-parade staging area or parade that, in Pride’s opinion is offensive, a hindrance to the progress of the parade, places other participants in danger or violates any regulation of this application.
Safety Meeting: All Parade contingents are required to send at least one representative to one of the Parade Safety Meetings.
Third Party Businesses: Contingents and floats cannot be sponsored by or display logos or trademarks from third party businesses or organizations without the advance express written permission of San Diego Pride. Such permission, if granted, will include additional fees and conditions and must take place prior to June 20, 2024. Please contact Mark Maddox, Director of Programs, at [email protected] for more information. Contingents found in violation of this rule will be invoiced by Pride for the full amount of a second contingent.
Marching Together and Third-Party Reassignment: No contingent is allowed to participate as one or as part of another contingent without advance pre-parade registration and approval from San Diego Pride. Any contingent “crashing” the parade will be removed immediately. Groups desiring to march with other groups must state that in the “Special Requests” field of the application. No parade entry may be reassigned to a third party without the express written approval of San Diego Pride.
Drugs & Alcohol: It is illegal to possess or consume alcohol or drugs while participating on City of San Diego streets, ordinance SDMC 56.54(a). Any illegal behaviors and / or violations of the law will not be tolerated in the SD Pride Parade staging, route and dispersal area. You will be responsible for any fines, fees, arrests, injury, or imprisonment that may occur if you break these or any other laws. In addition, violations will be immediate cause for dismissal from the parade. Please discourage your participants from consuming any alcohol or drugs prior to or during the parade
REFUND / CANCELLATION POLICY: Your parade contingent fee is NON-REFUNDABLE unless cancellation, IN WRITING, is received by SD Pride before 5 pm on June 20, 2024. There is a $100 refund / cancellation fee for contingents that paid over $350.00. For contingents that paid $350.00 or less 25% of the amount you paid will be assessed.
No refunds will be issued based on contingent placement (no exceptions).
For a full refund (less $100 or 25% processing fee), cancellation must be received in writing prior to June 20, 2024.
No refunds after June 20, 2024.