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Home > Featured Events > 250th Salute to Independence Parade
Hear Ye! Here Ye! Here Ye!
The City of Philadelphia, in partnership with Wawa Welcome America, invites everyone to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the 250th Salute to Independence Parade, a spectacular celebration of the United States' 250th birthday in 2026! As the heart of America's independence, Philadelphia will host the nation's largest parade, set for July 3, 2026 — a day before the usual festivities, making it a truly unique occasion for all to experience. Looking back at pivotal moments in history, July 2, 1776 marked the day Congress voted to declare independence as the British fleet and army arrived at New York. The following day, July 3, 1776, Congress debated and revised the Declaration of Independence, leading to its adoption on the morning of July 4, 1776 — on a bright, sunny, yet cool day. This sets the stage to make July 3, 2026 a perfect day for a stunning 250th celebration parade commemorating the defining events that shaped the nation. All Eyes on Philadelphia With numerous landmarks and events bringing national attention to Philadelphia in 2026, July 3 will be "parade day" and will focus directly on this massive parade that has been in the planning and invitation stages since 2022. This is a parade NOT to be missed, as it will feature elements from around the nation and the globe coming together to create a four-hour long procession. The parade will travel in the footsteps of the nation's founders along a 2.4-mile route providing ample viewing space for spectators. The parade will begin at 5th and Chestnut Streets and travel directly in front of Independence Hall, then on to Market Street and other historical and magnificent streets in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. WAMSB International Marching Bands Making the parade extra special, marching bands from as many as 17 nations will perform in the parade as part of the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) USA Regional Competition as they strive to achieve a qualifying score for the 2027 WASMB World Championships. Application Deadline is December 31, 2025 Marching bands and other units interested to appear in the parade can contact the parade organizers: Email Parade Producer Todd Marcocci or Email Associate Producer Annie Woods to request an application. The deadline to submit a completed application is December 31, 2025. Check this page often to see updates about the parade and a list of participating marching bands and performing groups as the list expands in the coming months. In the words of John Adams, one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and the 2nd President of the U.S., "Let us celebrate with Pomp and Parade from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more!" HUZZAH! 
2026 Participating Marching Units
Confirmed marching units as of February 2026.
Nationwide • The Great American Drum and Bugle Corps Alabama • Prattville High School Marching Band, Prattville, AL Arizona • Sahuarita Mustang Marching Band, Sahuarita, AZ California • Arcadia High School Marching Band & Color Guard, Arcadia, CA Connecticut • Colchester Continental Fife and Drum Corps, Hebron, CT • Marlborough Jr. Ancient Fife & Drum Corps, Marlborough, CT • Mattatuck Drum Band, Waterbury, CT Delaware • Odessa High School Marching Band, Townsend, DE Florida • Second Time Arounders Marching Band, St. Petersburg, FL • Sounds of Success Community Marching Band, Riviera Beach, FL Illinois • Crystal Lake Strikers, Crystal Lake, IL Maine • Sanford High School Marching Band, Sanford, ME Maryland • Falun Dafa Association, Bethesda, MD • Gwynn Park High School Marching Band, Accokeek, MD Massachusetts • New England Pride Colorguard, Woburn, MA Michigan • Northern Lights Marching Band, Ada, MI • Petoskey Steel Drum Band, Petoskey, MI Minnesota • KMS Marching Saints, Kerkhoven, MN Nevada • Foothill High School Marching Band and Color Guard, Henderson, NV New Jersey • 78th Army Band, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ • Kingsway Regional Marching Band and Alumni, Swedesboro, NJ • Long Branch High School Marching Band, Long Branch, NJ • Ridgewood High School Marching Band, Ridgewood, NJ New York • New York Marching Band All State All Stars, Syracuse, NY • Port Chester High School Marching Band, Port Chester, NY Oklahoma • Union High School Renegade Regiment Marching Band, Tulsa, OK Pennsylvania • 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers Field Music Fife and Drum Corps, Gettysburg, PA • 28th Infantry Division Band, Torrance, PA • Berlin Fife and Drum Corps, Berlin, PA • Central York Middle School Fifes & Drums, York, PA • The Franklin High School Black Knight Marching Band, Franklin, PA • Independence Fife & Drum Corps, West Chester, PA • Indiana County Fife and Drum Corps, Indiana, PA • Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia, Elkins Park, PA • Montrose Marching Unit Alumni Band, Montrose, PA • Philadelphia Freedom Band, Philadelphia, PA • Philly Fife and Drum Company, Philadelphia, PA • Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps, Reading, PA • Steel City Ambassadors Drum & Bugle Corps, Gibsonia, PA • Upper Darby Marching Royals Marching Band, Drexel Hill, PA • West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, Philadelphia, PA • Woodland String Band, Philadelphia, PA South Carolina • Carolina Forest Marching Performance Ensemble, Myrtle Beach, SC Tennessee • Claiborne Blue Battalion Marching Band, New Tazewell, TN Virginia • Green Machine Historical Ensembles, Fairfax, VA Wisconsin • Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin, Appleton, WI • The Okinawan Eisa Drummers of Wisconsin, Madison, WI • Pulaski High School Red Raider Marching Band, Pulaski, WI • Sound of Sun Prairie, Sun Prairie, WI Puerto Rico (U.S. Territory) • Banda Escolar de Guayanilla Costa Rica • Banda Municipal de Zarcero England • Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps Germany • Groitzscher Spielleute e.V. Ghana • National Cadet Corps Guatemala • Banda Musical Colegio Bilingüe Santa Fe Honduras • Banda de Guerra Instituto José Trinidad Reyes Ireland • Mullingar Town Band Italy • Triuggio Marching Band Sweden • Göta Lejon Youth Marching Band Related Events
• Historic Philadelphia is always a great place to gather for Independence Day celebrations because the "WAWA Welcome America!" celebration features numerous special events from late June through early July.
The 2026 semiquincentennial (250th) celebration will bring added significance to annual events such as a televised concert featuring major artists and an amazing choreographed fireworks show.
For a complete schedule of events, visit the "WAWA Welcome America!" website at July4thPhilly.com.
• Bands traveling to Philadelphia for the 250th Salute to Independence Parade can take advantage of many educational opportunities by touring historic sites such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and Valley Forge National Historical Park. For More Information
Web: July4thPhilly.com
Email: Todd Marcocci, Parade Producer Phone: 610-692-7233 If you're interested in entering your band in the 250th Salute to Independence Parade, please request an application from Todd Marcocci at the contact info above. 
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