Being a part of the Parade is easy!
What Participants Need to Know!
Sharing information ahead of the parade helps ensure everything runs smoothly on the big day. Please watch for updates from your unit organizer, who will send important information and reminders by email leading up to the parade.
Rules of the Parade
Please take a moment to review our full parade rules before parade day. These guidelines help keep the event safe and enjoyable for participants and spectators alike. Parade organizers reserve the right to remove any unit that is unable to follow these requirements.
Check Lineup & Breakdown Maps Below
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Watch for Email Updates
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Carpool Wherever Possible
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Check Lineup & Breakdown Maps Below · Watch for Email Updates · Carpool Wherever Possible ·
The Big 3
TIMING & DEPARTURE
Parade lineup check-in opens at 8:30 AM and closes at 9:40 AM, with a firm step-off at 10:00 AM. Units arriving after check-in closes may not be accepted. The 10:00 AM start time is firm in order to manage road closures and keep the parade moving on schedule, so please plan your travel time accordingly.
Do not leave personal items or equipment inside the gated Fairgrounds staging area. Once the parade fully departs, the gates are locked and only public parking areas outside the parade staging area remain accessible. This includes items such as cars, coolers, decorations, or other materials.
Wait until you reach Park Avenue before stopping to unload or break down your parade unit. Stopping on F Street or near the end of Main Street can cause significant delays for units behind you. Please continue to Park Avenue and find a safe space out of the flow of parade traffic before unloading. See the disassembly guide below for additional details.
CARS & TRANSPORTATION
Parking near the staging area is limited, so participants are encouraged to carpool or arrange drop-off when possible. Fewer vehicles help keep the staging area organized and safe for everyone preparing to enter the parade. Please review the maps below for designated drop-off and parking locations.
Vehicles that are not part of a registered parade unit are not permitted in the staging area. Limiting traffic allows parade units to line up efficiently and helps create a safer environment for participants and volunteers.
Overflow parking is available at Butler County Children Services (300 N. Fair Ave). This lot is about a 6–10 minute walk from the main Fairgrounds entrance.
BCRTA may provide return transportation to the fairgrounds after the parade when available. This courtesy shuttle is free of charge but is provided at the sole discretion of BCRTA and cannot be guaranteed by the parade committee.
WATER, & BATHROOMS
July 4th can be one of the hottest days of the year, so come prepared. The parade route is over two miles long and can take an hour or more to complete. Consider bringing a cooler with water and snacks in your unit’s vehicle, or coordinate with a nearby unit once you arrive in the staging area.
Plan ahead and take care of yourself in the heat. A limited supply of bottled water will be available near the Fairgrounds front gate and again at the end of the parade route, but participants should plan to bring their own water. Heat illness and heat stroke are real risks during long events in the sun, so please hydrate and pace yourself.
Restrooms are available at both the beginning and end of the parade. Fairgrounds restrooms will be open for participants, and portable toilets are typically placed in the parade breakdown area.
Check with your unit leader about options to ride if you need a break. Many parade units allow participants to walk, ride, or alternate between the two. Because the route is long and conditions can be hot, it’s a good idea to ask your unit leader ahead of time what options may be available.
Parade Lineup & Breakdown Maps
Coming soon! Check back for these great visuals on how lineup and breakdown flow!