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 Niskayuna High School back to Craig until 1pm.

                                                          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 the Niskayuna High School  parking lot. Personnel from these vehicles should take the available shuttle buses from the Niskayuna High School parking lot to Parade Headquarters. Participants using these shuttle buses should arrive at the Niskayuna High School parking lot no later than 8:45am to avoid congestion and delay in starting the parade. All vehicles parked at Niskayuna High School 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 the Niskayuna High School parking lot. 

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 8:45am 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

  
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


                                                Is there is anything else we should know?

DISABLED FLOATS OR VEHICLES: Any float or vehicle which is unable to move under its own power will immediately be moved out of the way so that those following can proceed.

RESTROOMS:  Restroom facilities will be available for parade participants at St. Helen’s School and the American Legion.

GENERAL INFORMATION: 

• Only units approved by the Parade Coordinator and appearing in the final parade roster will be allowed in the line of march.
• Units will not be allowed to show signs or banners other than those which depict the day’s theme or information previously submitted to the Parade Coordinator.
• Units arriving late for assembly will fall in at the end of the parade.
• All bands are requested to play as they approach the reviewing stand in front of the Niskayuna CO-OP on Nott Street. This will enable guests at the reviewing stand to hear a full song from your group as you pass by the stand.
• The use of fixed bayonets by any unit is forbidden during the parade.