PHOTO UPLOADING LINK: https://starwarsoregon.smugmug.com/upload/5c34zX/starlightStarlight Parade
June 1, 2024"We want to start out with an important point that we really try to impress on parade participants each year..." This is a quote directly from the parade organizers. The emphasis is theirs, not ours.
Exceptional illumination is mandatory for this evening event. Please test your lighting the night before the parade to ensure your entry has adequate lighting. The importance of illumination cannot be emphasized enough.
That said, carrying a lightsaber is NOT enough.
Having a couple of blinking lights on your chest box is NOT enough.
Buy (a lot of) EL wire, and use it to light yourself up. REALLY light yourself up!
GENERAL INFO: - Our deadline to turn in an application for the parade is
March 21st. While there's no deadline for signups, we need to have enough signed up to cover the $400 application fee.
- If we are not close to covering the fee by the deadline, we will have to skip participation in the parade this year.
- Please pay via Venmo in advance or be prepared to use the mobile app to pay on-site. We are not accepting cash. If you need an alternative to Venmo, please contact Judy (jj49)
FEES: - $15 per costumed marcher. There is no cost for spotters.
- Payments are non-refundable, but you're welcome to "sell" your spot to another costumer if you can't make it.
- Any surplus funds collected will go directly to our web hosting, con expenses, and other expenses for the year.
- Children age 11 and up can march in the parade with us in costume.
- The route was new last year and a map below shows the new route.
- Every parade participant (excluding spotters) must be significantly illuminated.
- Everyone needs to be wearing a parade-worthy costume. That means no tennis shoes or obvious variance from the costume you are emulating. Check in with us ahead of time if you have any questions or requests for changes to your costume for this march.
PAY TO NOT MARCH: You can also use the "pay to not march" - the donations from the "pay not to march" will go towards parade registration, props, con expenses, etc.
ROSTER & PAYMENT STATUS: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wmxMyPG5NwQB6L242la4GuqOeQI4EAk4Dv3b5JMokKc/edit?usp=sharing - This is Read-Only. Please reply to this topic to sign up and we'll get you added.
- The full roster will be listed on the sheet above, but for quick reference, I'll keep a list of all of the "there can be only one" costumes that are signed up
here, too. Note that we are generally okay with multiples of a character but not the same version of a character. Example: We can have both ANH Leia
and Slave Leia but not two ANH Leias.
STREET CLOSURES AND PARKING: - Naito Parkway closes at 10am and parade route streets will be shutting down at 4pm - consider this in your timing to arrive.
- We will announce that day which level (probably up high with less traffic, but we will be parking at the Smart park between 3rd and 4th and Alder and Morrison (see map below). If people have pop-ups they want to bring for changing, and if there is room, we can use those. Worst case if the weather is bad and/or no other places to hang out much we can set up our camp chairs and hang out under cover in the Smart Park. We will announce other options as the event gets closer.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW: - Sign up and pay your parade fee of $15.00. Venmo (to @Judith-Janssen)
- Order/acquire lighting.
- Test your lighting and make sure it's functional. Set aside extra batteries to bring with you just in case.
- Start planning how and where you're going to attach your lighting. Do a test run if this is your first time. Note that regular Scotch tape might remove paint from armor, so you might want to find another method. Safety pins are great for holding EL wire in place on fabric.
- Get cooling vests or other mechanisms for keeping yourself from overheating ready to go. One option:
http://coolvest.com/ - Another option: Freeze water in a Camelback.
LIGHTING: - You have to be lit up if you're marching in this parade! The Rose Festival Committee is very adamant about this. Good illumination is especially important!
- Here are some sources for acquiring lights:
-
https://thatscoolwire.com/ -
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/neon.html -
http://www.amazon.com - Amazon example:
https://www.amazon.com/PYSICAL-TM-Battery-Halloween-Decoration/dp/B017O00S3Mie=UTF8&keywords=el%20light%2030%20ft&qid=1463521212&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1PRE-PARADE: - Attach and test lighting on your costume.
- Familiarize yourself with where we’re parking, meeting, and staging. Make a plan for how and when you will arrive.
- Get familiar with your marching placement within our group. We will organize and post marching order a few days before the parade.
- The day before the parade, wear your costume boots/shoes all day to get your feet used to them. Figure out where the blisters might form and get
some moleskin down on those areas so you don't have to deal with pain during the march.
DAY OF PARADE: - Suggested packing list: Your costume, your lights, tape/glue/velcro for last-minute fixes, cooling devices to wear during the parade, band-aids/moleskin for blister prevention, swag you want to trade with other members, something to eat and drink, picnic blankets or camp chairs, hand sanitizer, extra batteries for fans and lighting, etc.
- Get some good sleep the night before the parade, and don't overexert yourself the day of the parade.
- Drink plenty of water all day long to make sure you are hydrated.
- Pre-parade is a great time to mingle with other members! Show up early and make a day of it!
- Plan your arrival at the staging area. Streets get closed off, so you may want to plan multiple routes/parking areas as fallbacks if you can't reach your
preferred spot. Consider ridesharing or mass transit.
- Parking in the lot is not free. Expect to pay $7-$15 for the day. (Exact cost is not known)
- Eat something light before you get suited up. It'll be awhile before you're able to eat again.
- Empty your bladder before you get suited up. It'll be awhile before you're able to pee again.
- We will take a series of group photos before we start marching. More details will be posted a few days before the parade.
- The map below shows restroom facilities in the formation and disband areas that are for parade entries. They are indicated on each map by a T
MARCHING IN THE PARADE: - Stay away from the crowds when marching. Parade organizers prohibit any direct contact between us and the crowd.
- Along those lines, resist the urge to high-five the kids. If a kid up the street sees you're high-fiving, they'll walk into the street, and things bog down.
- Better to wave, point your blaster, point, salute, etc.
- When the parade stops (which it usually does often for MAX and buses), people may come out to take pics. The spotters will dissuade them, but we
might get diehards who are bound and determined to get pics with us. Don't encourage or welcome this behavior.
- If you feel faint, go to a spotter. It's okay to remove your lid if you feel woozy or faint, but step to the side and go to a spotter for assistance.
- If you just want to march straight ahead and periodically wave to the crowd, that's great! Remember, for example, TKs aren't really the warm and fuzzy
type and people expect you to act imperial (as does the emperor). Jedi and other face characters can engage the crowd with eye contact and waves.
- Be courteous to the crowd! There are jerks that may come out and literally grab you for pics. Keep cool, and a spotter will be there ASAP. The
occurrence is rare, but you need to be aware. We don't want Lucas Film to see a pic of a Legion member bopping a guest on the head with their blaster.
- The parade is long and you will get hot so don't overdo it. Keep steady pace; it's okay to just march straight ahead and periodically wave to the crowd.
- The good news is the parade is at night!
- Do not stop marching unless told so by officials. The TriMet will be running during the parade so there may be a couple spots we are asked to stop,
especially just after the TV section of the parade.
- The live TV section is in the last half of the route. You'll notice camera operators and/or news reporters who
may approach you as you're marching. Just keep moving with the group and interact as you're willing and able as you continue to march.
- The parade does not end where we start. You will need to walk back to the beginning staging area after the parade. You can remove helmets and other costume pieces for the walk back. There is also TriMet available.
ENTRY AND LINE-UP FORMATION: - All parade entries line-up in the formation area according to the map below.
- We are entry #42
- Enter the formation area on NW Everett.
- Be sure to plan on arriving early because the area becomes very congested as other participants and spectators arrive.
TIMING SUGGESTIONS: -
10:00am: Naito Pkwy closes
-
Noon: Suggested arrival time if you want to get to a parking lot before they start closing roads.
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1:00pm: Staging area roads closed (estimate)
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4:30pm: Parade route roads closed (estimate)
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4:30pm: Start getting into costume to be ready and present at the formation/staging area
no later than 6:30pm (The timing
to be in the formation/staging location is from the parade officials) Once in the formation area we MUST stay on the sidewalk of our assigned block. Our
formation block is at SW Harvey Milk and 1st Street.
-
6:30pm: Group photos in our staging area - Plan ahead to be ready on time! We want you in the pictures, but we don't want to make 50+ people
stand in formation in costume waiting for you!
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7:30pm: Parade scheduled to start
-
7:30pm-8:15pm: We start marching (estimate)
DISBAND INFORMATION: - The parade disbands at SW 14th and SW Taylor. There will be police and parade officials in the disband area to assist.
- No vehicles are allowed to park on SW 14th or SW Taylor. Vehicles parked on these streets will be towed at owner expense.
HELPFUL LINKS:- Parade Rules and Regulations
- Marching Waiver (I will sign the waiver on our behalf when we turn in our application. By participating in the parade with SWO, you're bound to the conditions of this waiver.)
MAPS:NEW ROUTE!
SMART PARK WE WILL BE PARKED AT - LEVEL IN GARAGE TBD
NEAREST TO STAGING AREA: parking are the yellow dots made on map and red is staging area.
NEAREST TO DISBAND AREA: PARKING 
ROSTER OF "THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE" COSTUMES - See link above for full roster:Mandalorian - Luke
Steven V - Gideon Hask
Justin - Boba Fett
SPOTTER SIGN UPS: (We need 10 spotters to walk along the sides and in the back pulling wagon of water bottles)
Spotter Sign up Link: TBD
1. Jason
2. Kaylee
3. Monica
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