Thinking About Entering the
Festival of Lights Parade?
We're always excited to hear from people, families, organizations and businesses who have a creative idea they'd love to bring to the Festival of Lights Parade.
At the same time, our parade is a very particular kind of event. Our theme is:
*A child's holiday fantasy come to life*
We want every entry in the parade to contribute to that feeling of wonder, excitement and magic. Our goal isn't simply to fill the parade route — it's to create an unforgettable experience for the thousands of children and families watching from the sidelines.
Before you apply, please take a look at our gallery and the entries that have appeared in recent parades. This will give you the best sense of the scale, creativity and visual impact we're looking for.
What makes an entry a good fit?
We're looking for entries that are:
Imaginative
Does your idea feel like something a child would dream about seeing in a holiday parade?
Visually exciting
The Festival of Lights is, first and foremost, a nighttime spectacle. Lighting, color, movement, costumes, props and other visual elements are important parts of a successful entry.
Substantial
Our parade floats are large-scale productions. Many of the floats owned by the Festival of Lights are professionally constructed and cost over $25,000 to build. A new entry doesn't need to have that kind of budget, but it does need to have enough visual presence to hold its own alongside them.
Creative and original
We're looking for more than a vehicle with a few decorations attached. Think about the story you're telling, the world you're creating and what a child will see when your entry comes around the corner.
Festive — and especially magical at night
Remember that this is the Festival of Lights. An entry that looks wonderful during the day may not have enough impact after dark. We encourage applicants to think big about illumination.
How are entries selected?
Because space in the parade is limited, we cannot accept every application. Returning entries in good standing are given priority, and there is typically very little turnover every year; this means there are a very limited number of spots for new entries.
When space permits, the Festival of Lights Parade Content Committee reviews proposed entries based on their overall fit with the parade, including:
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Creativity and originality
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Visual impact
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Illumination
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Holiday spirit
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Appropriateness for children and families
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Scale and presence within the parade
We also consider the parade as a whole. Even a wonderful idea may not be selected if it is too similar to other entries or doesn't fit the year's lineup.
We're looking for magic
The Festival of Lights Parade is a special tradition because, for one night, downtown Los Altos becomes a child's holiday fantasy come to life. Every entry helps create that experience.
Ready to join?
If you haven't already, review our gallery and Rules and Regulations.
Next, fill out our Parade Entry Application. Be sure to include photos and videos of your submission. If you have issues, just email us.
Applications are due October 1.
*Note that due to space and time constraints we cannot accept all entries*