STAMFORD, CT – Stamford Downtown is seeking enthusiastic individuals to volunteer as clowns, giant balloon handlers and route marshals for the upcoming Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular on Sunday, November 20. Clowns and Balloon Handlers must be 16 years or older, and route marshals must be over 21. Application deadline is November 7. For more information and to apply, visit Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular Website.
The parade, taking place on Sunday, November 20, is one of the largest of its kind in the country, with giant helium balloons and more than 100,000 spectators annually. This parade is hosted by Stamford Downtown Special Services District. To kick off the festivities, the press is invited to attend a Press Conference with a special photo opportunity and balloon training on Thursday, November 10, 12:00 P.M. at Latham Park on Bedford Street in Stamford. Event sponsors, volunteer balloon handlers and representatives from Stamford Downtown Special Services will gather to announce details of the parade. Full media kits will be provided and our featured press conference guest balloon – Daniel Tiger© – will make a special appearance.
This year’s planned parade highlights include 14 giant balloons with favorites such as Abby Cadabby©, Bob the Builder©, Clifford the Big Red Dog©, Daniel Tiger©, Gingerbread Boy, Mr. Potato Head©, Octonauts©, Peppa Pig©, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer©, Scooby-Doo©, Shrek© and Snowman. In addition to the procession’s signature balloons, the streets will also be filled with fabulous floats and dance groups, and marching bands including the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band, the Fairfield County Police Pipes and Drums and high school groups from Stamford, Westhill, Trumbull, Uniondale, and Brentwood. Colin Cosell, Public Address Announcer for the New York Mets and New York Riptide will be the parade’s Master of Ceremonies for the first time this year.
The parade is scheduled to begin at noon on November 20 at the intersection of Summer Street at Hoyt Street and conclude on Atlantic Street, just a few short blocks from the Stamford Metro-North Railroad Station. On the eve of the parade, a Balloon Inflation Party presented by Point72 will be held on Saturday, November 19 from 3-6 p.m. at the intersection of Hoyt Street and Summer Street in Stamford Downtown. This pre-parade event will allow spectators a behind-the-scenes look at the balloons as they come to life and features the Acrobats of Cirque-Tacular Entertainment, music, parade talent, cartoon characters and a meet and greet with Santa.
