Protest demonstrations also sometimes take the form of a parade, but in such cases are usually referred to as a march instead.

The parade float got its name because the first floats were decorated barges that were towed along canals with ropes held by parade marchers on the shoreFact: date=April 2008. Floats were occasionally propelled from within by concealed oarsmen, but the practice was abandoned because of the high incidence of drowning when the lightweight and unstable frames capsized. Strikingly, among the first uses of grounded floats — towed by horses — was a ceremony in memory of recently drowned parade oarsmen. Today, parade floats are traditionally pulled by motor vehicles or powered themselves.

Since the advent of technology, it is possible for aircraft and boats to parade. A flypast is an aerial parade of anything from one to dozens of aircraft, both in commercial context at airshows and also to mark, e.g., national days or significant anniversaries. They are particularly common in the United Kingdom, where they are often associated with Royal occasions. Similarly, for ships, there may be a sail-past of, e.g., tall ships (as was seen during Trafalgar 200) or other sailing vessels as during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of World War II. The longest parade in the world is the Marksmen's Parade that takes place in Hanover every year during the Schützenfest. The parade is 12 kilometres long with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world, among them more than 100 bands and around 70 floats and carriages. Yonkers High School students get ready for the Yonkers Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Types of parades

• Cavalcade image:Novice's parade 1995.jpg

• Flypast
• Flower parade
• Parade of horribles
• Pride parade
• Santa Claus parade
• Technoparade
• Ticker-tape parade
• Military parade
• Victory parade
• Walking day

Parade examples

• Calgary Stampede Parade
• Carnaval San Francisco
• Dahlia parade in Zundert always held on the first Sunday in September
• Easter parade
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Mardi Gras
• Main Street Electrical Parade
• Marksmen's Parade, Hannover
• May Day Parade Russia
• Mummers Parade
• New York's Village Halloween Parade
• Notting Hill Carnival
• Orange Bowl Parade
• Orlando Citrus Parade
• Philippine Independence Day Parade
• Procession of the Species
• Republic Day Parade in India
• Republic Day Parade in Pakistan
• Saint Patrick's Day Parade Dublin, Munich, New York, Boston, and San Diego
• Toronto Santa Claus Parade
• Tournament of Roses Parade
• Vikingland Band Festival Parade Marching Championship
• Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
• West Country Carnival
• Zinneke Parade