Sherman, TX Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

The permit rule is § 1.11.195 of the Sherman Code of Ordinances: no person or group of persons can conduct an assembly or public demonstration in the park area except by written permission of the park department director. It sits in Division 6 of Article 1.11, which § 1.11.181 adopts as the official rules governing the use of Herman Baker Park. The permission has to be written, and the person who gives it is the park department director, not the police or the city clerk.

Section 1.11.199 uses the same approval path for soliciting, selling or peddling of food, merchandise or services in the park, which is prohibited except by written permission of the park department director. Organizers of a rally with vendors need both permissions. Other Division 6 rules apply to any gathering: alcoholic beverages cannot be sold or publicly consumed (§ 1.11.198), fireworks and explosives are prohibited (§ 1.11.193), vehicle operation cannot exceed ten (10) mph and motorized vehicles are confined to the parking area (§ 1.11.203), and the park is open only during posted hours (§ 1.11.202). Because the park is primarily a flood control site, § 1.11.184 allows it to be closed by unfavorable weather and grounds conditions.

Parades are treated in other chapters. Section 2.02.015(c) gives an affirmative defense to riding or driving an animal on a public sidewalk or heavily traveled street when the person is in a city-approved parade or event. In the noise article, § 8.07.005(2)(C) lists a parade as a lawfully scheduled event whose reasonable noise is an affirmative defense, and § 8.07.006(c) grants an automatic variance without permit fees for parades or other public events, provided any noise disturbance is abated when the assistant city manager or a designee asks. A special events noise variance under § 8.07.006(b) runs for events of limited duration not to exceed seven days, and the fee under § 8.07.006(e) is set by city council.

Police officers enforce the park rules and can remove anyone in violation, per § 1.11.182. Section 1.11.183 requires a copy of the division to be posted at the park entrance and kept in the city clerk's office.