STILLWATER — Organizers of a new festival in Stillwater have been told their effort to discourage political participation in the festival’s parade is illegal.

Reports said the organizers of Stillwater Log Jam instituted a $1,000 fee for politicians who were interested in appearing in Sunday’s parade. Nonprofit groups were charged $75.

City Administrator Larry Hansen said he requested Monday afternoon that the Log Jam officials be notified they are violating a law. The state law allows candidates to participate for a fee that is not greater than the amount that is charged to other units participating in the parade.

Log Jam officials said Tuesday that politicians would now be charged $375 to appear in the parade, the same fee as a “commercial single unit.”

Festival organizers said they weren’t previously aware there was an issue with pricing structure.