The holiday season fills Joplin streets with Christmas parades, tree lightings, church programs, and 5K fun runs. Each event brings floats, crowds, and drivers together, often after dark. Your event is only as safe as the street around it.

Do You Need a Parade Traffic Control Plan?

In most cases, yes. If your event closes a public street, narrows a lane or sends pedestrians across traffic, you need a parade traffic control plan and city approval. Joplin organizers submit a street closure permit request to the city, which has up to 10 working days to review it. The application requires a route drawing, so the plan comes first.

What a Parade Traffic Control Plan Includes

The Federal Highway Administration classifies parades as street-use events that require temporary road closures. A complete parade traffic control plan maps out:

The route, staging area, and dispersal point
Closure points, barricades, and detour routes
Advance warning and detour sign locations
Flagger stations and arrow board placement
Emergency vehicle lanes and pedestrian crossings

FHWA also calls a traffic flow plan a required first step before designing a traffic control plan.

Who Can Direct Traffic at an Event?

Volunteers in safety vests shouldn’t direct traffic on open streets. Under Missouri Department of Transportation flagger standards, flaggers must complete a recognized training course and recertify every four years. A certified flagger knows proper STOP/SLOW paddle signals and where to stand safely. Big John’s team includes ATSSA-certified traffic control designers, supervisors, flaggers, and flagger instructors.

How Far Ahead to Plan and Book

Work backward from event day. First, lock in your date and route. Next, book event traffic control so your plan and drawing are ready for the city. Then submit your permit, allowing for Joplin’s review period of up to 10 working days. Finally, notify residents and businesses along the route.

Planning for Early Sunsets and Cold Weather

Daylight saving time ends the first Sunday in November, which is Nov. 1 this year, so most holiday events now happen in the dark. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 76% of pedestrian deaths in 2024 occurred in the dark.

MoDOT requires nighttime flagger stations to have at least 5 foot-candles of illumination and retroreflective STOP/SLOW paddles. Budget for nighttime event lighting at crossings, nighttime parade lighting at staging areas, reflective traffic signs, and lighted arrow boards. For cold weather, set a backup date and an ice reroute.

Holiday Event Traffic Control FAQ

Does a small church or school event need traffic control? If it closes or narrows a public street, check with the city first, since you'll likely need a street closure permit.

Can Big John’s design my plan? Yes. Big John’s creates traffic control plans and street layouts for special events.

Book Your Joplin Event Traffic Control

Big John’s provides traffic control Joplin, MO organizers trust, from route planning to certified flaggers, signs, and barricades. After the last float passes, a Big John’s roll-off dumpster makes cleanup just as easy for homeowners, churches, and small businesses across Joplin. Call 417-540-0663, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or visit Big John’s roll-offs & traffic control services to schedule traffic control and roll-off service today.

Big John's Rolloff Blog

Holiday Parade Traffic Control Plan: Joplin Event Guide