Behind the scenes with the parade operations team

Behind the scenes--parade operations:

Mark

This is a three part series highlighting what goes on behind the scenes for preparation for our Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular.  The Parade Spectacular is one of the largest helium balloon parades in the country, featuring everyone’s favorite giant balloon characters, award winning marching bands, and fabulous floats.  It takes over 1500 volunteers and staff to run the parade each year. 

Role: Back stage monitor—set up, shuttle and golf carts

Name:  Mark

Role Description:

Mark manages the two golf carts and participant shuttles before, during, and after the parade.  He takes care of the 5 stages that line the route with setting up their signs, music stands and more.  He works with three others on Parade day to make sure volunteers in the parade are transported to where they need to be, when they need to be there. Or on-the-spot rides for a the costume characters that may need to be shuttled, or a dignitary added to the group that stepped off without them. 

Mark has been working the parade for over 6 years, in a job he always admired from the sidelines.  He exclaimed “ I would come to the parade every year with my family and watched someone else drive the golf carts up and down the parade route and dreamed it would be me one day”  “I gotta say, I enjoy working the parade every year since”

To learn more about the Stamford Downtown Parade, click here.