Olympia, WA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

The City of Olympia, in Thurston County, Washington, regulates parades through its Festival Event permit, set out in Olympia Municipal Code chapter 12.72. Section 12.72.020(B) defines a festival event as an event held in a fixed location on city property or city right-of-way which the general public may attend, plus any activity in a non-fixed location associated with the event such as a parade, walk-a-thon or run-a-thon. Section 12.72.030 then requires any person or group desiring to conduct or sponsor one to first obtain a permit, with the application submitted at least ninety (90) days before the proposed date.

The definition carves out events exclusively involving political or religious activity, and events intended primarily for the communication or expression of ideas where no vendor activities are involved, which are protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. For those, a separate rule applies: under OMC 9.16.060, people planning a procession, demonstration or parade that will use the roadway or disrupt sidewalk pedestrian traffic in a significant way are encouraged, not required, to notify the chief of police or the city manager or designee beforehand. On receipt of notice the chief or manager shall meet with the organizers and can suggest reasonable alternative times, routes or locations if the event will unduly interfere with traffic or endanger persons or property.

For permitted events, the city manager or designee sets the application form, process and approval criteria, publishes them on the city website, and can approve, deny, modify or condition an application (12.72.050). Permit terms can address time, place and manner, health and sanitary compliance, emergency services and security, and reimbursement of city costs (12.72.060). Sponsors cannot charge admission on city property, must clean up, and must provide for free exercise of speech. Stationary activities on city streets cost $50 per lineal street block, or portion of a block, per day or partial day, paid in advance (12.72.070).

A denied or revoked sponsor can appeal within ten (10) calendar days to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee of the Olympia City Council, which hears the appeal within twenty (20) calendar days and decides within ten (10) business days. The chief of police can close streets for a public event on the sponsor's request, once the streets are posted (OMC 10.64.020).