Winnebago County, WI Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit authority
- Parks Director, written use permit
- Scope
- County park land only
- Definition
- "Special event" includes parades, festivals
- Enforcement
- Sheriff's Dept. and Corporation Counsel
Summary
Winnebago County classifies parades on county park land as a "special event," and the County, not the organizer, decides whether the event falls outside normal park use and needs Parks Director approval. This applies only to county park property, not to streets in towns, Oshkosh, Neenah, or Menasha.
Special event means any planned occurrence on county owned park land including but not limited to parades, gatherings, festivals, and athletic events which is not within the normal and ordinary use of the public premises or place or which, by nature of the event, may have a greater impact on County services or resources than would have occurred had the event not taken place. Whether the event is considered within the normal, ordinary, or intended use of the park land shall be determined by the County. Special events are typically an event where the event organizers invite the general public to participate in the event whether or not the event charges a fee.
Revised 02/24/2026
Full Breakdown
Chapter 19 § 19.01(13) defines a "special event" as any planned occurrence on county-owned park land, expressly including parades, that falls outside the park's normal use, with the County deciding whether an event qualifies. Under § 19.10(1)-(2), any group wanting to use a Parks Department facility, including for a parade route through a county park, must first get the Parks Director's permission and a use permit, which can be denied if the event would interfere with the public's general use of the park. The rule covers only county park property; parades on public streets in an unincorporated town, or inside Oshkosh, Neenah, or Menasha, are not covered here.
Violations & Fines
Holding an unapproved group event or parade on county park land without a Parks Director use permit is enforceable under § 19.30, with the Sheriff's Department and Corporation Counsel able to pursue compliance and fall back to the Code's general $100 first-offense penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover a parade through downtown Oshkosh?
Who decides if my park event counts as a special event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Wisconsin special events & permits overview
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