What Is Parade Watching Etiquette

Lol. I used to live near a high school, and every year they had their homecoming parade, people would gather on my yard. I'm not talking about staying on the edge, or on the strip of grass between the sidewalk and road that is considered public property... They were straight up in my yard, practically on my doorstep.

Then the parents would leave cigarette butts, and the kids candy wrappers for me to clean up.

one year I got sick of it, and bought a bunch of cheap fake rubber poops, and put them all around my yard. Not one person set up! :)

I win! Lol.

As long as they don't pee on my shrubs, I don't care.

Sounds like fun to be on the parade route. It's one day - make the most of it. Enjoy.

In my city parades are not held on residential streets, just on main streets. Most of our streets have a sidewalk and a public boulevard between the sidewalk and street.

I have been to small town parades where they run through a residential area, but in each case there has been a public boulevard between the private yard and the street, either with a sidewalk or a ditch in between.

I wouldn't have an issue with strangers watching a parade from my yard as long as I was still able to watch and they didn't leave a mess.

In my experience, people scurry to find an "open spot" in the front row to see a parade.
I used to live on a parade route. Yes, people stood on my sidewalk & collected candy.

I believe a certain amount of your yard in from the road isn't actually yours. Meaning if the county decided to widen the road, they could take something like up to 3 feet without consent.

And really, if it's one or two times per year, no big deal. If it was every day I would be annoyed. I also wouldn't buy along a parade route though...so I guess you should ask neighbors maybe?

Mamaof3-

If it bothers you, how about some flower beds, and or shrubs and a low picket fence (if the town allows it). That should keep people off your lawn without being confrontational.

My parents live along a greenway (part of a bike circuit in NYC), that's the closest we come to having a parade nearby. It's never been an issue. But then again, it doesn't draw any crowds of onlookers.

Best,
F. B.

When I lived on a main street and had parades in front of my house people came and sat in lawn chairs, on blankets, and on the curb in front of my house.

It's public property/leeway area so it's not like they're trespassing or anything.

If you don't want them there then go put your own lawn chairs and blankets and stuff on the area and watch it there yourselves. Then there won't be room.

People set up their chairs or blankets on the boulevards (public space between road and sidewalk) along the entire parade route.

Typically, most roads and streets have a section that is "Right of Way" ... there may or may not be a sidewalk within this right of way.

Even though you have to maintain that ROW area, the city/state/county can utilize that area for utilities, road expansion, etc.

Most of the time, people stay within that right of way area.

Usually people are respectful of the idea that they are in someone's yard... although I'm sure there will always be people that don't respect your area.

We sit on the sidewalk or the edge of the road along the parade route. Sometimes it is in front of a house. Sometimes it is in front of a business. We do not go into the middle of their yards and wait there, but everyone sets up shop along the route regardless of the property type. If people have guests specifically for the parade, my DD does not join their children unless she is invited. Otherwise we stay by the road in our chairs.

If you do not want people to be in your yard, then you can rope it off or put up a sign reminding people this is a private driveway, do not park here, etc. You can also ask them to stay by the road and not up by your door. If your area has the 10ft easement rule, then you may not be able to prevent them from being on the first 10 ft of the property.

I am trying and failing to think of a place along our parade route that doesn't have a sidewalk that would denote public space. Usually it is a main road with a defined public area.

around these parts folks put chairs in front of their homes, so the candy collection rarely makes into the yards themselves. i'm sure there are eye-rolly incidents, but it sure seems as if everyone's respectful and having fun.
are there people actually setting up in your yard? or are they standing on the curb and chasing an occasional gumball onto your grass?
if people were leaving trash or doing other villainy i'd have a problem with it. in that case, take pics and go to the town council.
khairete
S.

If you don't want people in your yard then rope it off before the parade. Otherwise you will have to just get over it, it's only one day.

Parades where I live only travle the main streets and not the residential neighborhoods.

I guess having sprinklers you can control would be a hoot if you like seeing people scramble. LOL. Ok I admt that would be devilish and more of a teen age prank but it would make me laught too. Sometimes even I can be sophomoric. LOL.

We generally don't get on others property but watch parades from storefront windows or sidewalks.