66th annual Tomato Festival Parade
HENRY COUNTY FAIR
The Henry County Tomato Festival Committee would like to extend an invitation to you, your organization, or group to appear in our 66th annual Tomato Festival Parade in Napoleon, Ohio.
This year the parade will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026 starting at 6:00 p.m.
The theme is: “The Henry County Fair: Where Freedom Takes Root”
You can enter online using the link below or submit a printed copy of your entry form as soon as possible, but NO LATER THAN JULY 31st to avoid late fees. You will be sent more detailed information concerning your line-up number, and the route to take to your staging area, the weekend prior to the parade.
We sincerely hope you will participate in this year’s parade. All participants are invited to stay and enjoy the 173rd annual Henry County Fair, August 13th – August 20th.
Parade Entry Fees: A $35 entry fee is required only for Commercial and Political entries (any vehicle in any category with a commercial or political sign/logo will be subject to this entry fee). A $20 late fee is required for any entry submitted and accepted after the July 31st deadline.
How to Pay for Your Entry: Parade entries and fees are accepted online at the links below; entries paid online will be through PayPal, and you may need to create an account to pay online. You may also submit your entry payment by mail OR drop box at the fair office, see address below. Check, Money Order, or Cash is accepted. The Fair Office is located in the Event Center. For your convenience, there is a locked drop box located on the east side of the office space, to the right of the door.
Henry County Fair – Parade Director
PO Box 387
907 S Perry St.
Napoleon, OH 43545
Please contact the Parade Director with any questions. See information below.
Get in Touch
Shaylee Brown, Parade Director
Phone: 419-378-0017
Email: tomatofestivalparade@gmail.com
Float Judge Contest
Judging Criteria
Open to all youth groups, organizations, commercial businesses, and churches. Now is the time to start planning to WIN our $500 top prize!!!
Pick appropriate category: (YOUTH) (ORGANIZATIONAL) (COMMERCIAL) (RELIGIOUS)
Must design/decorate entry around current “Theme”
Enter to be “JUDGED”
Be one of the top 3 “Ribbon Winners” in each category above are judged based on these 4 aspects:
Use of Theme
Originality
Difficulty of Work
Overall Appearance
Float Winners
First Prize - $150.00
Second Prize - $100.00
Third Prize - $75.00
Grand Prize (1) BEST OVERALL FLOAT - $350.00 (Extra)
Not in top three - $25.00
Additional Information
Any vehicle in any entry category displaying a “commercial” or “political” sign or logo will be subject to the $35 commercial or political unit entry fee.
If you keep the commercial or political name covered it will not be subject to the entry fee and a “thank-you” to the vehicle provider can be included in the entry announcement.
Float entries that do not decorate the entry in keeping with the current parade “theme” will be eliminated from the float judging contest and will not be awarded any prize monies or ribbons.
Any entries that do not have the applicable entry fees paid by the parade start time will be excluded from the parade and float entries will forfeit all prize monies and ribbons.
*Parade unit line-up can start at 1pm – Staging instructions to be sent out the weekend before.
*Floats must be ready for judging by 4:30pm – Staging instructions to be sent out the weekend before.
”Commercial/businesses” are limited to 1 full size company vehicle with or without a trailer and 1 miniature/novelty vehicle.
”Emergency services” entries are limited to 1 full size modern unit, 1 vintage unit and 1 miniature/novelty unit.
Sports/Athletic groups are required to walk the 1-mile parade route.
NO SEMI / TRACTOR TRAILER type rigs are permitted.
The Tomato Festival Committee reserves the right to refuse or to reject any entry for any reason.