Safety Tips and Guidelines

Parade Rules and Regulations

The Niles Tree Lighting and Festival of Lights Parade is held the Friday following Thanksgiving annually. The event begins with the tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Festival of Lights Holiday Parade at 6:30 p.m. Several roads will be closed for the event and we have new seating rules being implemented this year.

The Niles Annual Tree Lighting and Festival of Lights Committee along with Fremont Police, Fire and Health officials remind the public that the event will be safe for all if everyone adheres to the rules and regulations.

See Something, Say Something

 

NO BACKPACKS ALLOWED AT THE PARADE. During this parade and all other Fremont events, the City of Fremont asks all community members remain aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity. "If you see something, say something." Please remember that it is impossible to identify a terrorist by appearance, nationality, and language.

If you see suspicious behavior or situations, do not confront the individuals involved. You can:

  1. Life-threatening emergencies: CALL 9-1-1. Remain calm; listen to all questions asked; provide short answers and know the address or easily identified landmarks from where you are calling.

  2. Call: Fremont Police Department’s non-emergency number at 510-790-6800, select option 3.

  3. Text: “Tip FremontPD” followed by your short (140 character) message to 888777.

  4. Webtip - Anonymous: Send your tip via the web, simply visit their NIXLE page.

  5. Email: Contact the FPD to send a tip or photograph to: fremontpolice@fremont.gov. This method is NOT anonymous.

Seating & Standing

 

For the benefit and safety for all involved, please respect the merchants and other attendees along the parade route.

  • All sidewalks are to remain open to the general public.

  • Chairs cannot be placed before 12 noon on Friday the day of the parade. Any unoccupied chair placed along the parade route before 12 noon is subject to removal. Parade organizers are not responsible for lost chairs.

  • Seating can be reserved with chairs/blankets beginning at 12 noon on Friday. Seating/blankets can only be placed along the curb and may not exceed one row. Sidewalks must remain accessible to pedestrians and people with disabilities.

  • Reserved seating is at your own risk. The police department will not take reports for lost or stolen chairs.

  • Seating on public sidewalks may not be reserved and then sold to members of the public. All seating must remain free and available to the general public.

  • NEW: At 4 PM when Niles Blvd. officially closes, City Maintenance will cordon off three sections of parking stalls along the commercial side (east side) of Niles Blvd. between H Street and J Street. After 4 PM, community members can use the designated parking spaces for cushions and blanket seating. No chairs will be allowed in this area. The goal of this trial seating arrangement is to alleviate the impact of people standing and sitting on the sidewalks and to allow for wheelchairs to freely access the sidewalks. Delineators and tape will be placed along the roadway as a barricade between the seating and parade participants. This is a one-year trial and we ask that no one touch or move the barricades.

Niles Festival of Lights Parade PSA’s

 

General Parade Rules

 

  • Barbecues and other cooking or warming devices are not allowed on the parade route. Bonfires are strictly prohibited and considered “illegal burns.”

  • Minors under 18 may be on the parade route when supervised by an adult. Please make sure those under 18 stay off the parade route during the parade to avoid delays and possible injury.

  • Dress for cold weather. Children and seniors may need extra layers of clothing to avoid hypothermia. Remember hats and gloves.

  • Drink healthy fluids and consume nourishing meals to avoid dehydration.

  • Use common sense; celebrate responsibly and always designate a driver when consuming alcohol!

  • Appearance in the parade is prohibited for anyone who is not approved by the Niles Festival of Lights Parade.

  • The parade route is a “No Drone Zones” and aircraft is subject to being impounded unless approved by the Niles Festival of Lights Parade or the Fremont Police Department.

  • Any tent, sofa or box that can be used as stools or seats are prohibited on parade route.

  • ALL Fireworks are prohibited except as part of scheduled official events.

  • No items may be sold along the parade route without a City of Fremont permit.

  • Selling space along the parade route, other than grandstand (if/when available) seating, is illegal.

  • It is illegal to buy, sell or give away horns on the parade route.

  • No public areas—sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streets, ramps—may be cordoned or roped off.

  • No ladders or scaffolding may be used as elevation for viewing the activities.

  • Pets are not allowed along the parade route; keep them safe at home!

  • Throwing any object into the parade; or at passing vehicles or pedestrians during the parade is dangerous and prohibited. Violators will be cited, property seized and the violator may be taken into custody.

  • No unauthorized parking. Vehicles blocking emergency travel lanes or parked in restricted areas will be towed at the owner’s expense, NO EXCEPTIONS. Pay attention to where you park and double-check for temporary No Parking signs and other restrictions.

  • No open containers of alcohol are permitted on public streets, sidewalks and all other public areas. Violators may be cited or arrested.

  • Sale, possession and use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated.

  • Smoking in all forms (Tobacco, Vaping, etc.) is prohibited along the parade route.

Road Closures

 

The following roads and parking lots will be closed between 4 PM – 9 PM:

  • Niles Blvd between J Street and Hillview Drive

  • D St., E St. F St., G St., H St., and I St. between Niles Blvd. and Second Street.

  • Iron Horse Lane between F Street and J Street.

  • Sullivan Underpass

  • The small parking lot on the north side of the Niles Town Plaza (the large lot will be closed the majority of the day). If you park in this lot prior to the parade, you will not be allowed to leave until Niles Blvd. re-opens.

J Street between Niles Blvd and Second Street will close at the time of the tree lighting at approximately 6 PM and will remain closed until 9 PM, or when the parade ends.

Vehicles will not be allowed to enter Niles on Niles Blvd. (off Mission Blvd.) after 5:30 p.m. and Niles will only be accessible via Nursery Ave. and Niles Blvd. from the north during the parade.

The following roads will remain open:

  • Nursery Ave.

  • Niles Blvd. on the north-side of Hillview Drive

  • Hillview Drive

  • Second Street

Please take extra precaution while driving in the area, as organizers anticipate approximately 15,000 people, many of whom will be children, in attendance. Detour signs, City staff and volunteers will be on site to help divert drivers around the road closures. Arriving early and carpools are highly recommended.

Friendly Reminders

 

  • Please do not ride bicycles on the sidewalks

  • Please place ALL trash in receptacles. The City is providing additional garbage containers for this year’s event.

  • No outside vendors are allowed. This is a closed event and only approved participants are allowed to sell food and merchandise.

  • No pets.