There’s no better place to see Westerville’s awesome July 4th parade than historic Uptown. Find a parking spot in any of 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 2025 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 vehicular traffic from County Line to Electric Avenue between 9 a.m. and noon. But parking at along any approach to State from side streets is typically plentiful, more open than a typical Fourth Friday, due to many Uptown service businesses being closed for the holiday.

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

The theme for the 2025 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Parade is “Stars, Stripes, & Freedom Unite!” submitted by Ahmed Adu-Bediako, a first-grade student at Westerville’s Mark Twain Elementary School.

For winning the Rotary’s annual parade theme contest among Westerville elementary school students, Ahmed was awarded a cash prize and a place of honor in the parade — riding on the Rotary Club float with his family.

Janet Tressler Davis will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Parade. A lifelong resident of Westerville, Davis has led the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce as its President and CEO of since August 1992. Earlier this month, she announced she will retire from the chamber in October.

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 4th 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. Saturday, July 5.