Themed a “Griswold Christmas,” Shawnee’s annual Christmas parade event is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, on Main Street.

After experiencing a hiccup to secure a group to organize the community’s longtime event, the city worked out an agreement with nonprofit SEFF (Safe Events For Families) to produce and manage this year’s parade. SEFF had handled the event for years until recently.

After SEFF bowed out of the task, Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County (CRPC) took on the effort the past two years, but CRPC chose not to seek the contract this time around.

The significant loss of some grant funding — and the loss of staff, as a result — left CRPC shorthanded to the point that the nonprofit believed it could not adequately organize the city events, CRPC Executive Director Brandon Dyer said.

The city nailed down an agreement with SEFF in September.

Behind from the start but armed with a city-approved $50,000 in funding, SEFF got busy immediately.

As the Commission decided whether to OK the agreement in September, Ward 2 Shawnee City Commissioner Greta Madson asked what the expenses would cover and how much impact the funding would have.

SEFF President Dell Kerbs said things are more expensive now than in previous years.

“Logistical issues all the way from equipment needed to operate the parade – from golf carts to porta potties, working with the city Parks department, Police department, additional security protocols,” he explained, adding that SEFF planned to bring fireworks back — a large undertaking that also has a large price tag.

“For the first time in several years, the rooftop firework display will make a return,” a press release from the city states.

All floats are required to incorporate holiday lights and fully embrace the Griswold Christmas theme. There also will be a limit on the number of vehicles allowed for each car group entry “to ensure a safe and manageable lineup.”

Mayor Eric Stephens asked if the $50,000 would cover the whole event.

Kerbs said it would not.

“We will still go after seeking additional sponsorships to help with secondary expenses from businesses,” he said. “I can tell you in 2021, which would have been the last year that SEFF was involved in special events, our contract with the city was $65,000, and our total budget – this also included Boo on Bell – was $128,000, that’s the lowest we’ve ever spent.”

He said with expenses going up, he feels like the city offered good seed money.

“We are very late in the game on this,” Kerbs said. “Every single dollar will be spent; there’s no way around it.”

Contracted event

Kerbs said SEFF has had a reimbursable agreement in previous years.

“The reason for that is because SEFF is a small nonprofit and if you do just write a check to any nonprofit then you have an audit – you want to be audited and do those kinds of things,” he said. “Well, with a small operation like that, it’s really hard to find somebody to do an audit – and if they do want to do an audit, then it’s an additional $6,000 to $10,000, which would then have to be passed on, which would take away from the dollars that would be better utilized with the city.”

SEFF also requested that a March 31 deadline be put into the agreement for review of a contract for upcoming years.

Floats will start lining up downtown at 5 p.m.