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Party Like It’s 2020: Throw a Car Parade To Remember!
This month, car parades are all the rage due to social distancing guidelines, and I think they will become the norm over the course of 2020 and that the trend is here to stay. As we physically distance ourselves from others as much as possible right now, it can feel like celebrating your VIP is out of the question. Don’t let that stop you. If the VIP lives on a relatively quiet and easily accessible street you can throw them a drive-by parade to remember! Here are some step-by-step ideas for how to make it happen while staying safe.
Step 1: Pick a Date and Location
Decide on a spot to meet (such as an empty parking lot) and a good time (we recommend a late morning on a weekend day) to hold the parade. The best thing about car parades is they can be held rain or shine. Avoid any car meet-up spots that may conflict with parking bans and be sure to give the town or city officials a heads up if you expect a fairly large turnout. Make sure you plan for a buffer so participants have time to gather in their cars at least 15 minutes before “Parade Time”! Identify arrival time: 15 minutes before parade begins it approach of the VIP. **Identify departure time to parade by VIP.
Step 2: Decide on a Theme
Identifying a theme allows participants to get creative with decorations is important. Choose something fun that will be exciting to others. Perhaps something the VIP enjoys, such as a sports team or fashion, or a play on words that rhyme with their name?! If no theme is designated? The theme of each car can be personalized by its passengers.
Step 3: Get People Involved
Ahead of the parade, use social media to get organized – Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Zoom or send good old-fashioned texts and phone calls. You can even print invitations and leave them on porches and in mailboxes. Make sure you identify and appoint a designated photographer to take photos of the parade from the location of the VIP and to ensure someone captures the reactions of the participants and VIP. If you are expecting a huge turnout? It would be wise to appoint a designated “on-site manager” to assist with lining up all the cars in a pre-determined order and perhaps list the names of those in each car so they can then announce the celebrants to the VIP as they drive by the VIP!
Step 4: Prep Time! Shop Online, Create Signs and Make Crafts
Advise your guests to order their decorations online early to ensure their purchases arrive in time for the parade! Party stores and Oriental Trading Company have terrific products.
IDEAS:
*Banners these can be customized
*Metallic fringe to suspend from rear view mirrors
*Colorful markers in thick fonts
*White paper plates with your messages
*Wigs, costumes
*Noise-makers and household pots & pans, boat horns, party horns, and megaphones
*Silly props
Another fun idea is to surprise the VIP with hand-written messages and cards or other treats to be enjoyed post parade. Let participants know in advance if this is your plan and have an empty goodie basket on hand when guests arrive at the pre parade meeting location. MUSTS: Blue “painter’s tape” to hold signage on the car. Shipping tape works well for holding items on the windows of the car
If you are creative and want to design signs? The BEST signs include:
A big, blown-up picture of the VIP
Name of the VIP
Birthdate or graduation class year
You might want to include the name of those in the car on the sides of the car
Step 5: Decorate Your Vehicle & Get Ready…
Top tips for pulling off the FOOL PROOF car parade:
Decorate BOTH sides of the car so you can drive back and forth past the VIP!
Limit use of balloons – they tend to pop or blow off the cars