Chamber charging fees for parade entries

Most participants in the Northwest Montana Fair parade on Friday will have to pay $20 registration fees this year.

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the downtown event, said it is imposing the fee to help offset the rising costs of organizing and facilitating the parade.

The fee will apply not only to the fair parade but also to all future parades organized by the Kalispell Chamber.

The registration fee will apply to single motor vehicles, single vehicles and trailers (floats), a car club of up to eight vehicles, two motorcycles, two single horses or a single team of up to six horses pulling a wagon or carriage. People walking alongside floats as part of a float entry won’t be charged separate registration fees. Walking groups will pay the $20 fee, but there is no limit to the number of walkers in a group.

There are several fee exemptions. The registration fee will be waived for veteran groups, color guards, emergency responders and marching bands.

The Chamber also is working toward converting all registration to an online format.

Parade entrants are encouraged to register at http://business.kalispellchamber.com/events/details/2015-northwest-montana-fair-parade-11434. Additional details about the parade will also be available at this link.

Registration must be submitted and entry fees paid in full by noon on Thursday.

Those who don’t have access to computers may pick up registration forms at either the fair office at the fairgrounds or the Kalispell Chamber office at 15 Depot Park in Kalispell.

The fair parade begins at 10 a.m. Friday.

Line-up for the parade will start at 7:30 a.m. on Eighth Street West, with judging at 8:30 a.m. Check-in for the parade will be held at the Flathead High School southeast parking lot corner.

There are five categories in Division 1 that will be judged: classic and antique car clubs, antique vehicles, cheerleading and/or drill teams, horse-riding groups and horse-drawn wagons or carriages; and unique entries such as strolling acts, trick ropers etc.

Division 1 awards are $75 plus a trophy and rosette for first place; $50 and rosette for second place; $25 and rosette for third; and rosette for fourth place.

Division 2 has four judged categories: best youth float, outstanding noncommercial float, outstanding commercial float; and most applicable to fair theme, “Kick It Up.”

Division 2 awards are $125 for first place; $100 for second; $75 for third and a rosette for fourth place.

All entries are encouraged to illustrate the fair theme, “Kick I Up.”

For registration questions, contact the Kalispell Chamber at info@kalispellchamber.com or call 758-2803.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.