Rules & Regulations

What every marching unit needs to know about timing, apparatus judging, and conduct in the line of march.

These rules apply to every unit in the 2026 line of march — fire companies, ladies auxiliaries, bands and drum corps, community groups, floats, and antique or vintage apparatus. Chiefs and line officers are asked to review them with their members and drivers before parade day.

1. Entry and registration

Every unit must be registered with the Parade Committee in advance, either through the online entry reply sheet or the printable entry form.
List all apparatus you intend to bring on your entry — pumpers and their years, aerials and type, rescue, mini-pumper, ambulance, chief's vehicle, vintage motor apparatus, and hand-drawn or horse-drawn antiques. Apparatus that was not declared may not be able to be placed or judged.
Include a current email address. Line-up positions and final instructions are emailed to each registered entry.

2. Apparatus judging

Judging is held on the morning of the parade in the Walmart parking lot, entering from Division Street.
Registration runs 8:30–11:00 AM. Judging begins at 9:00 AM. Apparatus must be registered within that window to be eligible for an award.
See the Trophy List for the awards presented this year.

3. Line-up and step-off

Units line up in West Boonton beginning at noon, entering at Morris Avenue & Rockaway Street.
All units must be in position no later than 12:30 PM. Units arriving after that should report to a parade marshal for placement.
The parade steps off at 1:30 PM sharp and follows Main Street to Grant Street, to Old Boonton Road, ending at the Boonton High School field. Full turn-by-turn detail is in the Directions.
Take the position assigned by the Committee and follow the direction of parade marshals at all times.

4. Conduct in the line of march

No sirens. Any use of sirens in the line of march — except in a genuine emergency — will result in disqualification.

Units march in the uniform or dress of their own company.
Any unit called out to a genuine emergency should leave the line of march quietly and notify a marshal if it is able to.

Full uniform, apparatus, and conduct rules. The complete rules and judging packet for 2026 is issued by the Parade Committee and sent to every registered entry ahead of parade day. It will be published here as soon as it is confirmed — until then, please contact the Chairman for anything this page does not cover.

5. Weather

The parade is held rain or shine. If it must be postponed for severe weather, the rain date is Monday, September 7, 2026. Notice is sent to registered entries and posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages.