Applications for the Katy Rice Harvest Festival Parade close at 5 p.m. Sept. 18. The parade rolls through downtown Katy at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.
The official form on the Eventeny platform requires a non-refundable fee of $25 per vehicle. The fee benefits the Rotary Fund, which supports community grants and scholarships, according to Katy Magazine.
Applicants must provide contact information, the type and size of their parade entry, how it is towed, the number of people walking and a description of any sound or music, according to the Katy Times.
The application page urges participants to bring decorated floats and festive vehicles rather than standard, undecorated cars or trucks. The push comes from community feedback, with spectators hoping to see more color and creativity this year.
The parade celebrates the region's rice-growing heritage. Kaci Maris, City of Katy Tourism and Marketing Event Coordinator, described the broader festival's roots in a Sept. 2 Katy Magazine article: "Rooted in Katy's proud agricultural history, the festival began as a way to honor the area's rice farming heritage."
Parade route
The parade starts on East Avenue just north of Fifth Street, turns west on Fifth to Avenue A, then proceeds to Second Street. It continues on Second Street to Avenue C, turns north at Katy City Hall and ends just before Tenth Street.
The parade is presented by the City of Katy Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Rotary Club of Katy. The festival itself began in 1981 as a "Sellabration" recognizing the importance of rice farming to Katy's economy, according to a City Council presentation.
Coming up
- Saturday, Oct. 3: Katy Rice Harvest Festival Parade, 9 a.m., downtown Katy
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Katy Rice Harvest Festival, 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Historic Town Square at Katy City Hall
- Sunday, Oct. 11: Katy Rice Harvest Festival, noon–6 p.m., Historic Town Square at Katy City Hall
