The Arlington 4th of July Association proudly organizes an outstanding and widely respected parade each Independence Day in and around downtown Arlington, Texas.
This Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, and nonpolitical organization that may not be used as a vehicle for any social, commercial or political purpose. It is staffed entirely by conscientious volunteer members of the local community with the goal of promoting the celebration of USA’s Independence Day via a parade. You may refer to our “Theme” and “Dedication” areas of our web site for more information regarding the history of the parade.
The parade is an annual event and consists of generally 150 entries. The number of spectators over the years has ranged from of 5,000 to 70,000. Parade entries include marching bands to exotic automobiles, military color guards to clowns, and dignitaries to unique presentations. Of course, the parade has a distinguished assortment of floats. Some floats are professionally built, but many are the proud results of individual ingenuity by local organizations and businesses. There is even an Award Ceremony after the parade at Heritage Park, 201 W. Front Street at 1 pm to recognize excellence within each of several categories. Refer to our rules and regulations for a complete list of categories.
We hope that you will join us for the 46th annual parade on Thursday, July 4th at 9:00 a.m., for the 2013 edition of USA’s Independence Day Parade in downtown Arlington.
If you’re interested in helping, either with an entry in the parade or behind the scene, please let us know. Go to our volunteer form to contact us.
What day is the parade being held?
The parade will be held on July 4th 2013 - Thursday. It is always held on July 4th unless it falls on a Sunday.
What time will the parade start and how long will it last?
The parade will start at 9:00 a m. and should be over by not later than 11:30 a m. Parade entries must be in the lineup
area much earlier. All entries will need to have a contact at the June General Meeting to pick up lineup area passes and
receive final instructions on lineup area operations.
What happens if it rains?
In the event of rain, the parade will be delayed on an hour by hour basis with the objective of completing it in on July 3. In all the years
the parade has been held it has been delayed once, but never canceled. It has rained briefly after the parade was underway a number of times
but the parade was not interrupted.
What is the route of the parade?
The parade route can be located here.
How long is the parade route?
The overall length of the parade route is approximately 2.5 miles. See the parade map.
How early do I need to get there to get a good spot to view the parade?
Most of the best spots (under shade and near reviewing stands) will be occupied by 7 a.m., but many very good locations can still be found
till around 8 a.m. After 8 a.m., it gets increasingly difficult to find good locations with nearby parking. If you're willing to do some walking,
you can always find a suitable place to view the parade even after it is underway. The route is more than 2 miles long so you may want to
do some reconnaissance before parade day.
Who puts the parade on?
The parade is put on by the Arlington 4th of July Association, a nonprofit corporation which has as a primary activity the planning and conduct of the annual parade. Financial support for the parade is provided by local sponsors who contribute the funds required to finance the work of the Association. The Association does not engage in any other fund raising activities to support the parade.
Where do I park to watch the parade?
You will want to review the parade route, and if possible, scout out your location. Then you want to park outside the route on side streets or public lots, not on private business or residence areas. The police do tow vehicles illegally parked.
Is the parade going to be on TV?
This year the Arlington Independent School District is producing the parade. It will be shown on Time Warner Channel 98, and will also be
available by webcast through a link on this site. See also AISD-TV’s website
How Do I Get Involved?
The parade association is always interested in community involvement. Please fill out our form and we will be in contact.
Are there going to be fireworks at the parade?
No fireworks for the parade. But the Rangers and many other venues have fireworks. Check your local directory for events.
Can I bring my dog to the parade?
Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash. Please take proper care to have plenty of water, and, of course, you are responsible for
clean up. All that is asked is that you have consideration for the other spectators. There will be a crowd with quite a bit of hustle and bustle.
