Solstice parade Saturday!

[artvixn]

Steampunk enthusiasts! Steamcon invites you to join us in the Fremont Solstice Parade! Don your finest steampunk 
apparel and perambulate through the streets of Fremont.

This year marks the first time that Steamcon will be participating in the Solstice Parade or any parade for that matter! It is very exciting to be part of this creative and lively event. 

Line up is at 3rd Ave NW & 36th St, Seattle WA 98107 and the parade ends at Gasworks Park. 

We ask that you wear your very best Victorian/Edwardian era steampunk clothing.
You may carry gadgets or props, but only non-functioning ones, please. 
This is going to be a long walk, potentially in the sun, so please wear well broken in shoes, and take any other precautions you feel necessary. 

Also please read and comply with the parade rules below:

The Parade Rules
No motorized vehicles.
No live animals.
No real weapons or fire.
No launching of projectiles.
No written words or logos. 
No music. We are a “no sound” group. The two groups we are between will be making more than enough sound for us. 

We are going to be the 20th group in the line. Ellie Jensen is our Ensemble Leader.

Here is the official word from the parade organizers:
Welcome Parade Ensembles and HONK Bands!
You have now been placed in the parade line-up. Seeing this line-up in total, we will be launching a magnificent 25thFremont Solstice Parade. There will be a giant robot; a Volcano; an Elephant and 2 giant whales; a coal train; a Sol Train!; and a veritable celebration of brass and percussion music!

All Ensembles and Bands will check in at Parade Registration between 12PM and 2:30PM. You will be shown a locator map to find your place in line-up, and you will be given a blue armband (only 1 per group). 
A Parade Of Sound

Every care has been taken to place you in the line-up based on the description of your group. This year, we have both the blessing and the burden of a lot of sound! We have staggered no-sound ensembles with sound-making ensembles to the best of our ability. We ask for your patience if the group in front, or the group in back of you (or, heaven forbid, both,) make noise that bleeds into your scene. 

Parade Pacing
We ask for your attention to maintaining two car lengths between your group and the group in front of you. If one group attempts to avoid the sounds from other group by slowing or speeding up, this will mess with the flow of the parade in a bad way. We love ensemble/audience parade interaction, but your ensemble must limit any “schtick” to ONE minute. Our orange-vested parade monitors will be controlling parade pacing by instructing your group to slow or speed up. Your group will need to establish an ensemble leader/band leader who can move your team when instructed to do so. This person will need to wear a visible blue armband (given to you at Registration.) 

What to Expect along the Route
There will be three Announcer Stages along the route. First serving our VIP donors will be MC John Boylan; The Insufferable Petrol Von Huffenfuel will announce from his stilts at Lenin; and MC Ricky Gene Powell will announce from just past the Center of the Universe. These announcers have been given the line-up order with a brief description of your group and will announce you as you pass by. 

There will be a Snak’n’Dash hosted by the lovely Hippocampus, Seattle. As you pass you will be offered a drink of water and grapes to refresh. This activity is a good milestone, located half-way through the parade. 
New this year, will be a Stranger Judges Stand. Our local entertainment newspaper and FAC are teaming up to award prizes for:

1. The Most Visually Striking Ensemble; 
2. The Best Marching Band;
3. The Best Cyclist Paint job/costume; 
4. The Best Cyclist Group;
5. The Most Confusing Ensemble; 
7. The Best Puppets;
8. The Best Family Fun Ensemble! 

Judges will score your ensemble/band as you pass, but know this is only a fun and ridiculous activity and is in no way reflective of your artistic merit! Prizes will be awarded at Gas Works Park! 

Arriving at the Park
Once your group arrives at the park at the end of the parade, please move quickly out of the way of the incoming ensemble behind you. Floats and giant puppets will be guided into the parking area. Bathrooms, food vendors, a beer garden, and a green room (for bands) are located inside the park. Please do not leave valuables on your float or unattended in the parking area- this location is not secure. 

Questions can be directed to "parades AT steamcon DOT org".