Alternatives to candy for parade participation?

[AnaMaria]

Our Pack routinely participates in the local high school's homecoming parade. Most participants throw candy to the observers, but we've been trying to come up with an alternative.

 

The candy is provided by the scouts/families, not the Pack, so we're also looking for something they could bring that would require a similar monetary outlay, or something very inexpensive for the Pack to provide.

[Docrwm]

We had a similar question come up in the past. Don't forget another factor in what you select - something the recipient would actually want.

 

BTW, we did not come up with a viable alternative.

[Stosh]

When did a parade turn into Halloween? If the people came for a parade, fine. If they came for candy, well, there's always the group behind that will toss candy, people will just have to stand there and stare at what's being offered up. One may not be popular, but no band ever tosses candy and they get away with just what they have to offer.

 

Stosh

[AlFansome]

 

As a member of a Kiwanis Club that puts on a July 4th parade for 30 to 40,000 people, I can say that throwing anything to the spectators is a bad idea if there are floats or motor vehicles involved. Little kids are always running out to get the goodies and we had a bad incident years back and have banned the practice.

 

Unless you plan on giving away something of value, I wouldn't bother...just adds to the debris left over after the parade.

 

If you give things out, it's safer to hand the items out as you walk the parade route instead of tossing them and having spectators run out into the route.

 

Then again, our parade is big with large floats and trucks and helicopters on flatbeds and a 50 foot tall retractable flagpole and ... so this may not be much of an issue in your case.

 

 

[CalicoPenn]

Invitations to the next Pack meeting, and don't forget to attach it to a membership application.

[SSScout]

Check with your DE. Parades are an ongoing possibility and it might be good to have an alternative ready for any Scout unit.

I agree with the bad aspects of candy throwing.

 

Adult leaders and Cubs can hand out Cub Scout labeled games or post cards with sports pictures on them or little game books (our council has big newsprint handouts with mazes and games in them,why not a smaller one?)

 

Have fun!

[infoscouter]

Our council provides us with Scout tatoos or bookmark to *hand* to the kids along the parade route. We are prohibited from throwing candy or prizes because they don't want kids running in front of vehicles.

 

Another possibility would be stickers - Kids love stickers.