Crew members are the heart of the Dallas Holiday Parade. We invite you to join in the magic of the season by volunteering!
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST BE A MINIMUM AGE OF 13 YEARS OLD.
ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT WHILE VOLUNTEERING. PLEASE REGISTER BOTH THE STUDENT AND THE ADULT.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Dallas Holiday Parade.
We look forward to having you as a volunteer!
REMEMBER TO SELECT YOUR VOLUNTEER PREFERENCE FROM THE LIST BELOW!
PARKLAND EMPLOYEES TRAINING (Closed Training)
Wednesday. November 13, 2024
6:00-8:00 PM
VERIZON EMPLOYEE TRAINING (Closed Training)
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
1:00-2:00 PM
DHP VOLUNTEER MEETING #1
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
6:00-8:30 PM
DHP VOLUNTEER MEETING #2
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
6:00-8:30 PM
PARKING:
More infomation will be available closer to the parade!
VOLUNTEER UNIFORMS: The NEW Official DHP 2024 parade sweatshirts will be at the volunteer training and or on-line beginning October 15th. Unfortunately, due to new rules & regulations from the city, Homeland Security and Dallas Police Department, we are following procedures designed to protect the type of issues that affected parades in the past with backpacks and unidentified persons on the parade route. That said, they MUST be able to quickly identify who is on the parade route. Hence, volunteers must purchase a new sweatshirt each year they participate.
EVERY PERSON ON THE PARADE ROUTE MUST WEAR A COSTUME OR THE OFFICIAL PARADE UNIFORM OTHERWISE, THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROUTE.
This year, the sweatshirt is dark heather grey and has the 2024 logo on it.
They are $20 and will be available for sale at the meetings.
Your official parade sweatshirt should be worn with a black turtleneck and black sweatpants or slacks. (please no capris or tight yoga pants or random holiday sweaters)
All volunteers must be 18 years of age.
We strongly encourage you to purchase your 2024 DHP sweatshirt in advance by clicking the link below after October 1st. This will ensure correct sizes and speed up the check in process for you at DHP Volunteer School. You must pick up your sweatshirt in person at the Volunteer School. They cannot be shipped and they will not be available to pick up parade morning.
https://square.link/u/l2NXdEfx
Should you have any questions, concerns please contact us at:
VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Sharon Price - 214-477-7987
Tim Plunk - 214-773-4045
Are you customer-service oriented? Do you want a front-row seat to the parade? Then, the bleacher host position is for you! Bleacher Hosts guide ticket holders to their seats and help with crowd control. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade volunteer uniform.*
Bleacher Host Block Captains are extremely important to the parade. Spectators sitting in the bleacher seats have purchased tickets in order to guarantee a fabulous view of the parade. If you are comfortable in leading a group of bleacher hosts in a designated area and are not afraid to problem solve, then you would make a great bleacher host block captain! This position requires attending a volunteer training, leading a group of volunteers and wearing the official parade volunteer uniform.*
If you like to be front and center, Banner Carrier is best for you! Banner Carriers march in the parade carrying a banner for each parade unit. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade volunteer uniform.* Volunteers are welcome to wear fun hats too! Keep in mind being a banner carrier requires lots of walking and carrying a bulky banner. This position requires attending a volunteer training.*
Have you always wanted to direct traffic? Bus wrangling is your position. Bus wranglers assist with parking the millions of buses that carry the band members and dancers. It’s not really millions, but it is hundreds. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
If you like to be silly and wear lots of makeup, you are a clown! Clowns entertain the audience prior to the parade on the parade route and in the parks. It’s a really early start on parade morning, but it’s well worth the fun! Clown costumes are provided, but you will need to provide your own wig and/or hat. Of course, you can wear your own clown costume too! You will need to attend Clown School (and you get an official diploma)!
Clown Block Captains ensure the fun never stops with the crowd! If you are comfortable clowning around in front of a large crowd and leading a group of other clowns in a designated area to clown around with you, then you would make a great clown block captain! This position requires attending a volunteer training, leading a group of volunteers, wearing a clown costume and having fun!*
Calling all clean freaks! Lots of horses and other animals love to march in the parade too! We have to keep the streets clean for the bands and other units marching behind them. Pooper Scooper clowns do just that—scoop the poop on the streets! You will be paired up in teams of three—one with a shovel, one with a broom and one with a trash can. Following behind the equestrians, you and your team will be the crowd’s heroes as you rid the streets of a bad stench! Clown costumes are provided, but you will need to provide your own wig and/or hat. Of course, you can wear your own clown costume too! You will need to attend Clown School (and you get an official diploma)! Keep in mind this position requires lots of walking.
If you are not an early morning riser, but you love to organize, come help with costuming and props. This volunteer position is stationed at the end of the parade route and gathers and organizes all of the costumes. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
If you like telling people where to go (in a nice way, of course), then dispersal volunteer is the right pick for you. Dispersal volunteers are stationed at the end of the parade route and direct parade elements in the right direction to either unload or drive on out of downtown. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
If you love to be the center of attention in a parade, Giant Inflatable Balloon Handler might be your best fit! Handlers work together to carry large, helium-inflated balloons. Most balloons are 30-55 feet tall! Volunteers are trained by professional balloon handlers to hold the balloon properly and spin it to the delight of the crowd! This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
Parade marshals keep the parade moving! This position requires a lot of standing and walking as the marshals march along with parade units to make certain everything stays on time and in sync. Marshals must attend a volunteer training and wear the official parade uniform.*
Could you sell ocean-front property in Arizona? If yes, we could use you as a merchandising volunteer! Merchandise volunteers hit the parade route early and sell official parade merchandise. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
Do you love having all the answers? We want you! The parade route is divided into four “zones”. A booth will be in each zone with Parade Hosts helping to answer spectator questions (Where are the bathrooms? Where is my bleacher section? Where is handicap seating? Do you have a map?) and serve as the lost and found. This position is vital to the success of the parade spectator experience. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
Calling all kids-at-heart! Parks volunteers assist vendors with booths, help man parade booths (such as face painting and letters to Santa) and assist entertainers with various needs. This position requires an early start, but most assignments are over when the parade begins. This position requires attending a volunteer training and wearing the official parade uniform.*
*The official parade uniform consists of a black turtleneck, (if cold) black pants and a current parade sweatshirt. The sweatshirt is purchased at the volunteer trainings.