Of course, someone had the idea to use a platform like that for advertising. Even political ads. Under the same rules, if you're advertising something, you need to contribute $50 to the parade fund. Not that expensive really, considering almost the whole city is guaranteed to see it.

There were also various representatives from all kinds of churches walking around in the crowd, handing out flyers. Though the preachers probably didn't pay anything—they disappeared somewhere once the parade started.