Catch Westerville’s big July 4th parade in historic Uptown!

There’s no better place to see Westerville’s awesome July 4^th parade than historic Uptown. Find a parking spot in Uptown’s many public parking lots (all are free), bring your bag chair, and catch a shady spot along Uptown’s brick sidewalks to enjoy the big show!

The Rotary Club of Westerville’s 2024 Independence Day Parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. from the parking lots of St. Paul Church, 313 N. State St.

The parade travels south through the length of historic Uptown, until turning off at Electric Avenue, to conclude at Westerville South High School.

State Street will close to traffic from County Line to Electric Avenue beginning at 9 a.m. Westerville police will reopen the street, from north to south, as the procession of about 90 minutes ends.

More than 160 entries are expected in the parade, including the marching bands of all three Westerville high schools.

The theme for the 2024 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Parade is “Red, White & Blue … America! For Me and You!” submitted by Madison Adams, a rising third-grade student at Cherrington Elementary.

For winning the Rotary’s annual parade theme contest among Westerville elementary school students, Madison was award a cash prize and a place of honor in the parade. She will ride on the Rotary Club float with her brother Mason and parents, Bryce and Melissa Adams.

The city is encouraging families to make safety plans in advance of the big event. Set a meeting point in case family members become separated, wear sunscreen and stay hydrated. Police encourage families with young children to take a photo of them, wearing the clothes they will wear at the parade, just in case the family becomes separated.

The Rotary Club of Westerville has staged Westerville’s July 4^th festivities since 1962. For more information on the club’s day-long events planned for 2024 – including a 5K before the parade, a concert and food truck festival in the evening, and the big annual fireworks show at 10 p.m. – visit the club website.

The parade and other events will take place rain or shine. If threatening weather occurs at the scheduled time of the evening fireworks, a rain date for the fireworks is set for 10 p.m. Friday, July 5.