A major highlight of our annual Niska-Day celebration is our parade that begins at 10am.  Through marching bands, drum units, various other marching units, vehicles and many creative floats, this parade continues to carry with it both the marks of distinction and quality.

As in the past, the parade will begin on Union Street at the corner of Cornelius Avenue, but with the on-going construction at the Niskayuna High School, the end of the parade will have a slight twist.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate our annual Niska-Day celebration and ask that you submit the attached form no later than April 4th. 

For questions or more information contact Maria Freund at parade@niskaday.org

Your comments and suggestions are most welcome.

The Niska-Day Parade has become one of the most respected parades in the Capital District.  On behalf of the entire Niskayuna Community, we welcome your participation.

PARADE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Parade Route?

  Can I get from Craig to the parade without having to take my car?

YES!  You may park your car in one of the following locations:

• Medical Arts (Capital Care) building adjacent to Craig School
• The Korean Church adjacent to Medical Arts building
• The Soccer Complex lot off Balltown Rd.
• Care Net (2123 River Rd.)
• The new Medical Office building (behind Care Net on River Rd.

Shuttle busses will be available starting at 8:30am to take parade marchers to St. Helen's and spectators to the CO-OP area for viewing.  Look for Niskayuna School busses.

                                                How will I get back from the parade?

Shuttle busses will continue to run from St. James Square back to Craig until 2pm.


                                               Where do we assemble?

All parade traffic should enter Niskayuna via Union Street. Union Street can he reached from the East by New York Route 7, from the West by New York Route 7 and Balltown Road, and from the North or South by Balltown Road (Route 146). 

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS:  Local units whose participants will be arriving individually, such as schools, Girl Scouts and all other walkers and similar units are to have their participants dropped off in front of St. Helen’s Church.  Cars will be allowed to pull into the St. Helen’s Church circle area no earlier than 9:15am and no later than 9:45am due to safety concerns within the parade line-up area. It is suggested that you have several parent chaperons at St. Helen’s to walk children to their division in small groups rather than waiting for all children to arrive.

UNITS TRANSPORTED BY PRIVATE VEHICLES:  These units should car pool to minimize the number of vehicles using limited parking places. All private vehicles transporting unit personnel should proceed to St. James Square parking located on Nott Street East. Personnel from these vehicles should take the available shuttle buses from the St. James Square parking lot to Parade Headquarters. Participants using these shuttle buses should arrive at the St. James Square parking lot no later than 8:45am to avoid congestion and delay in starting the parade. All vehicles parked at St. James Square WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE UNTIL AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE. If you need to leave earlier, you may want to park in the Lexington Parkway area.

UNITS TRANSPORTED BY BUS: These units should transport their personnel directly to Parade Headquarters at Union Street and Cornelius Avenue for drop-off. Empty buses should then proceed to St. James Square parking lot on Nott Street East.  Entrance to St. James Plaza is on Nott Street East.

FLOATS:  All floats are to arrive at the St. Helen's Parking Lot (via Union Street), no later than 8:45am.  Upon arrival, each float is to check in with a representative of the Parade Committee (identifiable by their parade button) at the parking lot area. Any float not in place by 8:45 am will not be eligible for judging in the float competition. Winners will be announced prior to the parade. Posters will be presented to the winning floats and we ask that you display them on both sides of the float for the parade. All floats must be ready to move at the direction of the Float Chairperson. Any float not prepared to move will fall in at the end of the parade. If you have a group walking with your float, please note that they will line up at a different area. You will all come together at the intersection of St. Helen’s parking lot as you proceed down Union Street . (This is done for safety reasons.) 

VEHICLES: All vehicles participating in the parade are to arrive at St. Helen’s Church parking lot (via Union Street) at 9am. Upon arrival, personnel from each vehicle should check in with a member of the Parade Committee.

At what time will we assemble?

The parade will begin assembly at 8:45am at the parade assembly areas. Divisions will form as follows:
                                  One - Cornelius Avenue
                                  Two  - Gurenson Lane Onto Nicholas St.  
                                  Three - Shirl Lane Onto Nicholas Street
                                  Four - Ray Street

BANDS AND MARCHING UNITS: These units will be in place in their assigned division by 9:15am. Upon arrival at the assembly area, each unit is required to have a representative report to the appropriate Division Head. Once your unit has arrived at the assigned location, it is to remain there. Division Heads will report their division’s readiness at 9:45am to the Parade Coordinators. The parade will begin at 10am promptly - RAIN OR SHINE!  It is important that all bands, marching units, schools, etc. have a banner identifying their group. This makes the parade more enjoyable for those watching the parade.

 
Are the floats judged?

Floats are judged in the following categories:

            General Excellence:  1st and 2nd Place
            General Excellence (Commercial):   1st Place 
            Theme:  1st and 2nd Place
            Most Artistic: 1st and 2nd Place

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