Rules for groups taking part in the Masquerini Passarella

A. Conditions for taking part

A1. Forming a group

1. Each group has at least 25 and at most 200 members.
2. Small groups of fewer than 25 people, organised or not, do not submit an entry form. They may follow the route at the tail of the parade once the registered groups have all set off, or join another group with its agreement.
3. Members under 15 take part only with adult chaperones (teachers, parents or guardians), with at least one adult for every four children. Chaperones are members of the group and wear costumes, except those accompanying groups with children under 6.
4. Travel agency groups, from outside Pieria, take part under special terms (masquerini.gr/en/travel-trade/). They are exempt from the minimum of 25 members (A1.1) and from entering through the form and its deadline (B.1). They are bound by all other provisions of these rules.
5. Taking part is free. There is no participation fee payable to the organising authority.

A2. Theme, costumes and banner

1. Each group has a name and a costume theme of its own. The theme is free, as long as no other group has already entered it. If two groups enter the same theme, the one that submitted its entry first takes precedence. The organising authority lets interested groups know which themes have already been entered.
2. All members of the group parade in costume. Taking part without a costume is not allowed, the only exception being what A1.3 sets out for chaperones.
3. Each group is led by a banner or sign showing its name and theme.
4. The banner may show the name of the group or of the body it represents. Advertising products or services, showing prices and handing out promotional material, directly or indirectly, are not allowed on the banner, the costumes or the floats.
5. Offensive, political or racist content is not allowed on costumes, banners or floats.

B. Entry and confirmation

1. Entries are submitted online only, through the form at masquerini.gr/en/take-part/parade/, within the deadline announced on masquerini.gr.
2. Where a legal entity takes part (a club, school, association, business, etc.), the entry is submitted by its legal representative or by a person they have appointed.
3. Submitting an entry does not mean it has been accepted. A group is accepted once it receives a confirmation email from info@masquerini.gr. The organising authority may decline an entry that does not meet these rules, or for reasons of safety and the flow of the parade.
4. By submitting the entry, the group leader and the members of the group accept these rules.
5. The group leader keeps the list of members up to date and informs the organising authority of any significant change, such as in the number of members.
6. If the group decides not to take part, the group leader informs the organising authority by email at info@masquerini.gr at least seven (7) calendar days before the day of the parade.
7. If the minimum number of members does not turn up on the day of the parade, the organising authority decides how the group will take part.
8. The organising authority may amend these rules. Groups are responsible for keeping up to date through masquerini.gr. Every amendment is also sent by email from info@masquerini.gr.

C. Obligations of group leaders and members

The group leader is answerable to the organising authority for their group’s compliance with these rules. Group leaders and members:

1. Comply with these rules and with the law in force.
2. Keep to the dates and times of the meetings set by the organising authority (Pre-season Parties, the costume presentation, group leaders’ meetings and interviews) and to the time for arriving at the start, at the entrance of the Park of Colours.
3. Follow the instructions of the organising authority and the parade stewards on the start, the route and every organisational detail.
4. Keep to the group’s place in the starting order, keep their distance from the group in front and do not interrupt the flow of the parade.
5. Do not allow people without a costume or in partial costume, members of other groups or anyone else to join the group during the parade.
6. Do not drink alcohol during the parade.
7. Do not play music from their own speakers or sound systems, as the organisers’ DJs play music along the whole route. Wind and percussion instruments are allowed, as are whistles, carnival horns and other carnival novelties.
8. Treat the event’s crew (stewards, committees, volunteers, presenters, journalists, photographers, etc.), the public and the other groups with respect.
9. Do not leave litter or rubbish along the route. Throwing streamers and confetti is allowed.

D. Prohibited items

The following are not allowed during the parade:

1. bangers and flares;
2. spray paint and coloured powders;
3. flour and eggs;
4. glass objects and containers;
5. sharp or dangerous objects and replica weapons;
6. flyers and promotional material of any kind.

E. Parade order

The order in which groups parade is set solely by the organising authority. Indicative criteria are how the costumes and float look, the flow of the parade, the technical needs of the route and the needs of each group.

F. Floats and moving structures

1. A float is optional, motorised or not.
2. Every float, small structure, self-propelled or wheeled item, or anything else accompanying the group, must be approved by the organising authority before it is built or used. The group leader sends a description, dimensions and a photo or sketch within the deadline announced on masquerini.gr.
3. The maximum dimensions (width and height, including anything carried on it) are announced on masquerini.gr. Height is limited by the decorations hung above the streets of the Street Party.
4. Motorised floats are driven by a driver with a valid driving licence, are insured and move at walking pace.
5. The organising authority may prohibit floats, small structures, wheeled items, etc. for safety reasons or where the competent authorities (the Municipality, the Hellenic Police, the Fire Service) object.

G. Weather, postponement or cancellation

1. In the event of bad weather, for safety reasons or force majeure, the organising authority may postpone or cancel the parade, change its time or alter the route.
2. The decision is announced on masquerini.gr and on Masquerini’s social media, and sent to group leaders by email.
3. Postponing or cancelling the parade does not give rise to any right to compensation, for example for the cost of costumes or floats.

H. Photos and video

1. The parade is photographed and filmed by the organising authority and its partners. The material may be published on masquerini.gr, on Masquerini’s social media and in the event’s promotional material, without payment.
2. By submitting the entry, the group leader confirms that they have told the members of the group about this and, for members who are minors, that they have the consent of their parents or guardians.
3. Where minors appear in close-up, their faces are blurred before publication.
4. Anyone who does not wish to appear in published material may ask for it to be removed at info@masquerini.gr.

I. Liability

1. Each member takes part at their own risk. Chaperones are responsible for members who are minors.
2. The organising authority is not liable for injury, loss, theft or damage to people, costumes, floats or other belongings of the groups, unless the law provides otherwise.
3. The group leader and the owner of each float or vehicle are liable for damage their group or float causes to third parties or to public and private property.

J. Sanctions

1. The organising authority reserves all its legal rights.
2. If these rules are breached, the organising authority imposes on the group leader, the group or individual members, depending on how serious the breach is:
   1. a warning;
   2. removal from the parade, on the spot;
   3. exclusion from future editions of the Masquerini Passarella or from all Masquerini events, for up to three (3) years.

K. Personal data

1. The details in the entry form are processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Greek Law 4624/2019, solely to organise the parade, to communicate with the groups and, where the group has opted for it in the form, to publish its details on the “Carnival costumes” page.
2. The data controller is the organising authority, as set out in the Privacy policy of masquerini.gr (masquerini.gr/en/privacy/).
3. The details are kept for two (2) years after the event ends and are then deleted.