Parade Policies and Guidelines

Registration is closed for the 2026 Comal County Fair and Rodeo Parade

Chairman: Nicole Watts
Co-Chairmen: Lisa Acosta and Sharon Weidenfeld

One of Central Texas’s largest county fair parades will be held Friday, September 25, 2026 at 9:00am!

Please read over the policies and guidelines set forth by the Parade Committee in accordance with local ordinances and regulations.

Parade Application
Parade applications are only accepted via Comal County Fair’s website starting July 1st at 8:00am and will close August 31st, or when we reach max capacity (85 entries). Incomplete applications will not be accepted. If your submission is chosen for participation, you will be notified by the Parade Committee. At that time, payment will be collected. You will have two weeks from your approval notification to submit your payment. Failure to submit a timely payment may result in disqualification.

Categories
Entry categories are as follows:

  • Local organizations (non-profits, clubs/car clubs, children’s sports teams, etc.)
  • Visiting towns and fairs
  • School organizations (clubs, sports teams, bands, etc.)
  • Commercial entries (businesses)
  • Political (those running for election or seeking re-election; political groups)
  • Marching/walking units
  • Miscellaneous (anything that doesn’t fit into the above categories)

The following categories are judged categories:

  • Local organizations (non-profits, clubs/car clubs, children’s sports teams, etc.)
  • Visiting towns and fairs
  • School organizations (clubs, sports teams, bands, etc.)
  • Commercial entries (businesses)

Judging will begin at 7:45 AM. Floats and participants must be in place—you will not be judged if you are not in place. Winners will be awarded a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place trophy in each category.

Fees
Participation fees are as follows:

  • Local organizations, visiting towns and fairs, and miscellaneous—$25
  • Commercial and political—$125

Fees will be collected after you receive an acceptance email.

Floats
All float entries, including the tow vehicle, must be decorated. Any motorized vehicle (car/truck, golf cart, ATV, etc.) must be driven by a licensed driver 18 years or older. Vehicles must have insurance, and you must be able to present insurance upon request.

The total length of the float, including the tow vehicle, may not exceed 50 feet. (This should accommodate most standard utility trailers and a tow vehicle.) If your group/business wants to enter more than one float (such as sports teams), each float requires an application. No more than two floats will be allowed per organization/business—this allows for maximum participation from various groups in the community.

Equestrian Units
All equestrian units must be able to provide a Coggins test upon request. You must also provide your own “pooper scooper” to follow behind you through the parade.

Walking Units
Any walking units must be able to complete the 1.35-mile route. A golf cart or ATV can follow behind to carry water or for emergencies.

Throwing or Distribution of Items During the Parade
Per the City of New Braunfels municipal code, no items may be thrown or handed out along the parade route. Failure to comply will affect future entry into the parade and could result in a fine.

  • Sec. 126-426. – Public conduct during parades.
    • (a) Control of parade; restrictions. Upon initiation of a parade the chief of police shall take over control of the movement of the parade. No participant shall throw candy, gifts, tokens, advertisements, or any other object from any parade unit while the unit is on the parade route. This prohibition includes parade participants walking or marching in the parade. Failure to observe these requirements shall constitute a violation of this article and the chief of police or his designee is empowered to remove any unit that violates this provision from the parade immediately.
    • (b) Penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any provision of this section, and upon conviction of same, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $200.00; and each and every day’s violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
      (Ord. No. 95-32, § IV, 9-25-95)

Inclement Weather and Cancellation
The Comal County Fair Parade will go on rain or shine. In the case of severe weather prior to or during the parade, the Parade Committee Chairman will consult with NBPD to determine any delay or cancellation. The CCFA is not responsible for any monetary losses incurred due to delay or cancellation. Our priority is the safety of our participants and spectators.

Staging Area
The main staging area will be on W. Nacogdoches St., with several side streets to be used as needed for school-entry staging. A lineup and map of the staging area will be sent out a week before the parade. Parade officials will be on hand to help guide you to the correct area and answer any questions you may have.

Disbanding Areas
All parade participants will disband under the direction of the parade officials and NBPD. Please do not impede traffic flow to disband, as it backs up the parade and is unsafe for the participants.

Final Notes
All of our parade officials are Comal County Fair Association volunteers. Please be courteous and listen to the officials—failure to do so will affect future entry to the parade, and you will be asked to leave immediately. Should you encounter a problem with an official, please ask for the parade chairman or a co-chairman to help resolve matters.

  • Chairman: Nicole Watts
  • Co-Chairmen: Lisa Acosta and Sharon Weidenfeld

**The Comal County Fair Association Parade Committee reserves the right to revise these policies and guidelines as deemed necessary.

ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO parade@comalcountyfair.org

Please ask parents dropping off their child/children to refrain from driving down the line up streets. This is for the safety of all parade participants!