FREE ENTRY, ENDLESS EXCITEMENT!
FREE ENTRY, ENDLESS EXCITEMENT!
Join the fun at the Saskatoon EX Kick-Off Parade
Get ready to be part of the excitement at the Saskatoon EX Kick-Off Parade as it marches through downtown Saskatoon! The #8BestDaysofSummer kick off on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, spreading happiness and delight to everyone along the way!
A community parade is a stepping stone into a world of endless possibilities for local organizations!
Get familiar with the EX Kick-Off Parade policies and regulations before you submit your entry!
Get ready to shine! Let us help you craft an exciting 50-word commentary about your parade entry!
Thousands of excited spectators of all ages gather every year to enjoy the Saskatoon EX Parade. Imagine your organization at the heart of this summer spectacle, bringing joy and excitement to everyone! The Saskatoon EX Parade on July 30, 2025, marks the start of an unforgettable 8-day event from July 31 to August 7. Produced by Prairieland, a not-for-profit community organization, the EX is Saskatoon’s biggest summer celebration, bringing the whole community together for a week of fun and festivities!
Join the Saskatoon EX Parade for FREE! There’s no entry fee, and your organization can have multiple entries. Just fill out one application per entry to showcase your creativity and spirit. Let’s make the parade unforgettable!
Top 10 Reasons to Enter Your Business or Organization in the Saskatoon EX Kick-Off Parade
Joining a community parade is like stepping into a world of endless possibilities for local businesses and organizations! Here’s why you should jump in:
1
Increased Visibility and Brand Exposure/Spotlight on Your Brand
Participating in a parade provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to increase their visibility and showcase their brand to a large audience. This exposure can lead to greater brand recognition and attract new customers.
2
Community Engagement and Goodwill/Community Love
Being part of a community parade demonstrates a business’s commitment to the local community, fostering goodwill and trust among residents. This can enhance the business’s reputation and build stronger relationships with customers.
3
Networking Opportunities/Networking Galore
Parades offer a platform for businesses to connect with other local organizations, potential partners, and suppliers. These connections can lead to collaborative opportunities and mutual support within the community.
4
Customer Engagement and Personal Connections/Customer Connections
Parades allow businesses to engage directly with customers in a fun and relaxed environment. This personal interaction can help build stronger customer relationships and loyalty.
5
Economic Impact/Boost the Local Economy
Community events like parades draw visitors from outside the area, boosting local spending on accommodations, dining, and shopping. This influx of visitors can stimulate the local economy and benefit businesses.
6
Showcase Your Products & Services
Parades provide a unique opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services in a creative and engaging way, potentially attracting new customers and increasing sales.
7
Employee Morale and Team Building/Team Spirit
Participating in community events can boost employee morale by providing a fun, non-work environment where employees can bond and collaborate. This can lead to stronger workplace relationships and improved teamwork.
8
Supporting Local Causes
By participating in parades, businesses can support local causes and charities, further enhancing their image as socially responsible and community-oriented organizations.
9
Creating Memorable Experiences/Create Lasting Memories
Parades allow businesses to create memorable experiences for attendees, which can leave a lasting impression and encourage future engagement with the business.
10
Strengthening Community Ties
Engaging in community events helps businesses build and strengthen relationships with local residents and organizations, leading to a more loyal customer base and a supportive community network.
Parade Date: Tues. Aug 6 2024, 10 am
Saskatoon EX Kick-Off Parade Policies & Regulations
The Saskatoon EX Parade kicks off the Saskatoon EX held August 6-11, 2024. The Saskatoon EX is produced by Prairieland, a not-for-profit community organization. The Saskatoon EX is the largest summer event in Saskatoon bringing the community together in celebration.
There is no entry fee to be in the Saskatoon EX Parade and any organization can have more than one (1) entry. Please fill in one (1) application per entry if your organization is wanting more than one entry in the parade.
Commentary
Please take some time to prepare a short commentary (no more than 50 words) of your entry to be provided for the televised broadcast. We cannot guarantee your entry will be on television or that all your commentary will be read in its entirety.
The deadline for commentary is July 14.
Policies & Regulations
Please review the General Information & Policies and Regulation documents carefully. They are in place to help ensure standards of quality and safety.
PARADE OBJECTIVES
To be entertaining family fun. To create awareness and hype for the opening of the Saskatoon Exhibition and to showcase our community spirit.
PARADE ROUTE (subject to change)
The route will be determined based on City of Saskatoon requirements and will be published on our website and posted on our social media channels once it has been determined.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES
- All applications are to be completed no later than Thursday, June 27, 2024.
- Parade entries must observe all Policies and Regulations and follow all instructions from police and parade officials. All entries require prior approval and must complete an application form. Your completed entry application is your ACCEPTANCE of all the Parade Policies & Regulations.
- Parade officials reserve the right to remove any entry, at any time, whether as a result of concern for safety, interference with the parade’s progress, or any other reason which the officials deem appropriate.
- Floats or other entries advocating, opposing, or depicting any political, religious, or social issues will not be considered.
- For safety reasons, no material may be handed out or thrown from any parade entry before, during or after the parade. Distribution of gifts, merchandise, literature, or other material on the parade route is strictly prohibited.
- Antique vehicles may be permitted (vehicle must be 30 years or older). All other vehicles must be decorated.
- We ask each entry to assist us in keeping a consistent pace in the parade and to help in elimination of gaps. A spacing of 20 feet between each parade entry will be enforced. Please respond to the requests and directions from officials.
- Alcoholic beverages are forbidden on any float, in any vehicle, or on the person of any participant. Participants consuming alcohol prior to or during the parade are subject to removal from the parade.
- Prairieland reserves the right to limit the number of entries. Entries will be evaluated based on merits as a parade entry.
- The parade shall be composed so that the total viewing time shall be a maximum of one hour past any point to be consistent with the logistics of street closures and TV coverage.
- We recommend that all decorative materials be made of fire-retardant materials.
- For safety reasons, we require all riders on / in motorized entries to have individual seat belts, body supports, or other body restraints. Personnel included in the entry shall not mount or dismount from floats or other entries unless the entry has come to a complete stop.
- It is the responsibility of the entrants to ensure that the design and operation of their float is safe and reliable and Saskatoon Prairieland Park assumes no responsibility in connection therewith and makes no representation as to safety by reason of compliance with its parade regulations. It is your responsibility to obtain and provide proof of liability insurance (minimum of $2 million). It is also required that Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation is added as an “additional insured” in your CGL Policy.
- A member of Prairieland Park may contact you to resolve quality and safety issues after the applications are reviewed.
- Sponsorship / Commercialism: Recognition of commercial sponsors is acceptable provided that it is done tastefully and the commercial message does not dominate the entry. Prairieland Park reserves the right to reject blatantly commercial entries.
- Decisions regarding all entries are final.
- There is no entry fee.
- These policies are applicable to ALL entries in the Saskatoon Exhibition Parade.
- We suggest for safety reasons that fuel tanks be topped off just prior to the parade. Containers of fuel MUST NOT be carried on any parade entry.
- It is the responsibility of the entrants to ensure that the design and operation of their float is safe and reliable and Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation assumes no responsibility in connection therewith and makes no representation as to safety by reason of compliance with its parade regulations.
- Prairieland reserves the right to remove any entry where safety measures are, in the opinion of the officials, inadequate.
- Your completed entry application is your ACCEPTANCE of all the Parade Policies and Regulations.
- Sponsorship / Commercialism: Recognition of commercial sponsors is acceptable provided that it is done tastefully and the commercial message does not dominate the entry. Prairieland reserves the right to reject blatantly commercial entries.
- Floats must be 100% decorated including the tow vehicle.
- The height of your entry and tow vehicle must be indicated on the application. If there is a concern with the entry’s height, we will contact you.
- All entries must provide drivers for their floats. The driver must have proper ventilation and a clear view of the street.
- Drivers must remain with their entry from check-in time until the parade is complete and the float returns to the applicant’s location.
- No smoking on or near entries.
- All motorized entries must carry a 2.5 lb ABC Dry Chemical fire extinguisher, inspected and charged.
- Exhaust pipes are to be wrapped with protective wrap where it passes near decorations.
- Please bring along water for your participants, as this is not provided on parade day.
- If raining, parade is a go. Please ensure participants come prepared.
- Toy guns or weapons are not permitted.
- These policies are applicable to ALL entries in the Saskatoon Exhibition Parade.
- All livestock shall be in good health and sound condition. All parade entries shall exhibit proper disposition and control in a parade environment, without assistance.
- No stallions.
- Each unit is ENCOURAGED to provide their own novelty clean-up unit. These can be fun entries consisting of small, fully decorated cart-type vehicles with suitably costumed teams equipped with gloves, shovels, or brooms suitable for collecting “road apples” from the parade route.
- Any animal entry deemed to violate any of the regulations or policies will be given the opportunity to correct the deficiency. If it cannot be corrected, they may not be permitted to participate in the parade.
- All light and heavy horse hitches shall have an assistant in the front seat of the wagon. All hitches in excess of two horses must have at least two additional assistants on the ground or on horseback.
- All horse hitches must have the neck yoke tied to the tongue. We recommend the use of bit style bridles.
- Your completed entry application is your ACCEPTANCE of all the Parade Policies and Regulations.
- No smoking on or near entries.
- Please bring along water for your entry’s participants, as this is not available on parade day.
- Drivers must not leave their animals unattended at any time and must be in control of them throughout the parade route.
- All entries must follow the specified parade route.
- Drivers and animals must not ride toward spectators or intimidate them in any manner.
PARADE OBJECTIVES
To be entertaining family fun. To create awareness and hype for the opening of the Saskatoon Exhibition and to showcase our community spirit.
PARADE ROUTE (subject to change)
The route will be determined based on City of Saskatoon requirements and will be published on our website and posted on our social media channels once it has been determined.
CRITERIA TO BE A RECOGNIZED MARCHING BAND
- Band must be uniformly dressed.
- Band must march in a specific order with a definite formation.
- Band must consist of a minimum of 15 people.
- A variety of all instruments must be represented to include: brass, reed, and percussion sections (not just one of each).
GENERAL POLICIES & PRACTICES
- All entries must be in full uniform.
- All marching bands must maintain a forward motion. Routines that cause gaps will not be permitted. Reverse motion of the entire unit on the parade route is not permitted.
- We ask each entry to assist us in keeping a consistent pace in the parade and to help in elimination of gaps. A spacing of 20 feet between each parade entry will be enforced. Please respond to the requests and directions from officials.
- Decisions regarding all entries are final.
- Please bring along water for your participants, as this is not provided on parade day.
- There is no entry fee.
PERFORMANCE FEES
All bands meeting the above criteria will receive a performance fee of $250 plus additional member fees based on the schedule below. Any bands under 15 members will not qualify for the performance fee but will receive the member fees as per below.
Local – Saskatoon: $5 per member or a minimum of $100
In Province – Saskatchewan: $10 per member or a minimum of $150
*All performance fees are paid in Canadian funds to a maximum of $500 per band
Entry Types
Parade entries are selected based on the value they bring to our audiences and therefore need to be of quality, be family friendly, entertaining, inclusive, and inspiring. Previous parade entrants are encouraged to modify key elements to keep the design fresh and exciting each year to ensure a place at this year’s show.
FLOAT ENTRIES
The entries in this category depict products that you manufacture or the natural resources that you may associate with, which have brought prosperity to the community of which you are a part. These can also include societies, clubs, nonprofit organizations and community leagues. Please indicate on the entry application if your entry was professionally built.
EQUESTRIAN ENTRIES
Entrants with the most colourful outfits, most carefully prepared horses, polished harness and saddles, and colour-coordinated groups will be given top consideration. All equestrian entries are encouraged to provide their own Novelty Clean-Up Unit. These can be fun entries consisting of small, fully decorated cart-type vehicles with suitably costumed teams equipped with gloves, shovels, or brooms suitable for collecting “road apples” from the parade route.
NOVELTY & MASCOT ENTRIES
The entries in this category are original and humorous. Individual clowns, unicyclists, and cyclists riding turn-of-the-century bicycles and wearing appropriate costumes are invited. Mascots require a handler and cart-type or vehicle for rest breaks. Please ensure your entry has water, as weather conditions vary, and cart-type vehicle is decorated.
ANTIQUE VEHICLE (VEHICLE MUST BE 30 YEARS OLD OR OLDER)
Riders in the vehicles should be appropriately dressed. New automobiles will only be considered if space is available or for invited guests.
WALKING GROUPS
No float or mode of transportation? No problem! We invite cheer teams, sports teams or any group wanting to participate in the Saskatoon EX Parade. Bring a banner, some music, or cheers, and you will fit right in!
Entry Acceptance
Applications will be reviewed and chosen based on their merits as a parade entry. For example, floats will be given preference over decorated vehicles. Company logos and decals on your vehicle are NOT considered decoration. There is a maximum number of entries, so please apply early!
We look forward to receiving your application and seeing you at the Saskatoon EX Parade!
Contact Information
If you have questions regarding the Saskatoon EX Parade application, please contact Ashton Prescott at aprescott@prairielandpark.com.
The Saskatoon Exhibition Parade Route
Begins at 24th Street and Spadina Crescent East, West on 24th Street to 4th Avenue, South on 4th Avenue to 20th Street, East on 20th Street to Spadina Crescent East, North on Spadina Crescent East to 24th Street, Disperse on Spadina Crescent West in marshalling area.
Rebroadcast Schedule
Shaw Spotlight (Channel 10/105) rebroadcast schedule:
Tuesday, August 4 – 6:00 pm, 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5 – 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 6 – 9:00 am, 5:00 pm
Friday, August 7 – 12:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Winners of the 2019 Saskatoon Exhibition Parade
Pictures of the 2019 Saskatoon Exhibition Parade
Write Your Entry Commentary
By following these tips, you can create a commentary that not only describes your parade float but also effectively promotes your company or organization to a wide audience.
Start with a Hook
Begin with an engaging opening line that grabs attention. For example, “Get ready to be dazzled by the magic of [Your Organization]!”
Highlight Your Theme
Clearly state the theme of your float. Explain what it represents and why it’s important. For instance, “Our float celebrates the spirit of innovation and community.”
Share Your Story
Provide a brief history or background of your organization. Mention any significant achievements or contributions to the community.
Describe the Float
Give a vivid description of your float. Include details about its design, colors, and any special features. Use descriptive language to paint a picture.
Incorporate Key Messages
Highlight key messages or values that your organization stands for. This could be community involvement, sustainability, or innovation.
Engage the Audience
Encourage the audience to participate or engage with your organization. For example, “Visit our booth at the EX to learn more about our exciting projects!”
Keep it Concise
Aim for a commentary that is no more than 50 words. Make every word count to ensure your message is clear and impactful.
Practice and Refine
Read your commentary aloud to ensure it flows smoothly and is easy to understand. Make any necessary adjustments for clarity and engagement.
Include Contact Information
If space allows, include a way for people to connect with your organization, such as a website or social media handle.
End with a Bang
Conclude with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression. For example, “Join us in celebrating the heart of our community!”