The Katy Rice Harvest Festival Parade – the prelude to the City of Katy’s legendary Katy Rice Harvest Festival – will be held October 3 beginning at 9 a.m. The parade is the Saturday before the Festival; the festival runs October 10-11 in Katy’s historic downtown square.

This year, parade organizers are encouraging all participants to help bring even more color, creativity, and excitement to the event. Based on community feedback, spectators are hoping to see more decorated floats and festive parade vehicles rather than standard, undecorated cars or trucks. The parade theme celebrates the region’s rice-growing and agricultural heritage.

Applications for the parade are now through 5 p.m. on September 18 and must be accompanied by the official form found on the Katy Rice Harvest Festival website at https://www.eventeny.com/events/applications/application/?id=8943. There is a non-refundable fee of $25.00. Applications must include contact information such as name, address and phone number and additional information about the parade entry including the type and size of unit, how it is towed, the number of people walking, number of vehicles in the entry, description of sound/music and a description of the entry.

Attendance and participation are voluntary. Participants assume all risks associated with attending the festival or parade, including but not limited to weather conditions, crowds, uneven surfaces, noise, and other inherent risks associated with outdoor public events.

The parade will start on East Avenue just north of Fifth Street in Katy, then turn west on Fifth to Avenue A, where it will proceed to Second Street. The parade continues on Second Street to Avenue C, turning north at Katy’s City Hall and ending just before Tenth street.