The Baby Parade is held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Parade registration will begin at 11:30 in the driveway of St. Stephen Reformed, 249 E Main Street. Anyone reporting after 12 noon will not be eligible for judging. Any child six and under may compete. Please see the complete rules for more details and the entry form (due by Thursday of fair week).
The parade route is East Main Street to Roberts Avenue; south on Roberts Avenue to Franklin Street; and east on Franklin Street. Thank you to our sponsors.
Baby Parade Details
| Chairperson | Lorrie Hillard, (717) 468-8010 |
| Pre-Registration | Forms due by 5 p.m. Thursday, October 2, 2025. |
| Registration and Line-Up | 11:30 a.m.–noon Saturday, October 4, 2025. St. Stephen Reformed parking lot, 249 E. Main St. Anyone reporting after 12 noon will not be eligible for judging. |
| Judging | noon–12:45 p.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025. St. Stephen Reformed parking lot. |
| Parade | 1 p.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025. Starting at St. Stephen Reformed, down East Main Street to Roberts Avenue; south on Roberts Avenue to Franklin Street; and east on Franklin Street. |
Competitive Prize List
| Grand Prize | Runner Up | |
|---|---|---|
|
Most Outstanding Walker (category A, B, C) |
$30 | $25 |
|
Most Outstanding Mini Float, Wagon, Stroller or Coach (category D, E, F) |
$30 | $25 |
|
Most Outstanding Float (category G, H, I) |
$60 | $40 |
Categories
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Best Characterization Walking (impersonating nursery rhyme, storybook or fairy tale character) |
$15 | $13 | $11 | $9 | $7 |
| B | Best Dressed Walking | $15 | $13 | $11 | $9 | $7 |
| C | Cutest Family Group | $15 | $13 | $11 | $9 | $7 |
| D | Best Decorated Coach/Stroller | $15 | $13 | $11 | $9 | $7 |
| E | Best Decorated Wagon | $15 | $13 | $11 | $9 | $7 |
| F | Best Decorated Mini-Float | $20 | $17 | $14 | $10 | $8 |
| G | Most Original Float | $25 | $20 | $15 | $10 | $8 |
| H | Most Beautiful Float | $25 | $20 | $15 | $10 | $8 |
| I | Mechanized Float | $25 | $20 | $15 | $10 | $8 |
| J | Youngest Baby | $15 | — | — | — | — |
Rules and Regulations
(Please Note Changes and Revisions)
- Judging consists of:
- 25% Overall Appearance;
- 25% Workmanship;
- 25% Theme Adaptation; and
- 25% Creativity.
- Any child six and under may compete.
- One entry blank is required for a pair or group of children in the same category.
- A contestant is requested to select the category of his/her own choice. All entries must be registered prior to the parade and must be submitted to the Chairperson by Thursday of fair week. A category may not be changed after the deadline time. This will be strictly enforced.
- Live animals and motorized vehicles are prohibited. The committee reserves the right to reject any entry not meeting approval. Categories D, E – vehicle should be visible or easily identified by judges.
- Only one person may accompany the entrant. Two, if someone is needed to pull the entry. All contestants in the walking division must walk or be carried. If a child is being pulled or pushed by another child or adult, they cannot enter a walking division.
- An entry with a platform built on wheels must register in the mini-float or float category.
- Mini-float 4′ x 4′ or smaller—if over 4′ x 4′ must enter a float category.
Due to Midway restrictions floats must also follow new height and width restrictions.
The height of any given category must not be more than 10′ from the ground and no more the 8′ wide. - The mechanized category includes entries that move by motor or any kind of manual movement and must be entered in the Mechanized Float category.
- In the event of inclement weather, judging only will take place at Garden Spot Fire Rescue Station 1, 339 E. Main St. between 12 and 1 p.m. You will be notified by phone before 9:30 the day of the Baby Parade.
- Parade registration will begin at 11:30 in the driveway of St. Stephen Reformed. Anyone reporting after 12 noon will not be eligible for judging.
- Entries will be judged between 12 and 12:45 p.m., following which the parade will begin. The judges will also judge during the parade route.
- Winners will be announced prior to the beginning of the parade and posted at the New Holland Fair Building and on NewHollandFair.org.
Results
Here are the most recently posted Baby Parade results.