2026 Parade Information
Our theme this year is "Celebrating the People of Takoma Park: Elders, History, and the Democratic Spirit," with Historic Takoma serving as our Grand Marshal. Historic Takoma perfectly embodies our theme, given all it does to preserve, tell the story of, and celebrate our local history.
Dear Takoma Park 4th of July celebration participants, volunteers, and other key stakeholders,
I am writing to let you know that we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year's parade and evening street party due to extreme heat.
As you are likely already aware, the DC area is facing a historic heat wave. The heat index on July 4 is forecast to be at least 105 degrees. Montgomery County has declared a Heat Emergency through the holiday weekend, and the region is currently under a National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warning.
In this heat, parading is particularly risky: participants have to gather and wait outdoors until the parade rolls, and once the parade is moving there's really no easy way to rest or cool down. That burden falls particularly hard on our youngest and oldest participants, on other heat-sensitive individuals, and on the animals we ask to join us.
We feel that it would not be safe, or responsible, to ask our community to march or to gather in this heat.
Please know that this was not an easy decision. So much care and preparation goes into the parade and the evening street party each year. We are grateful to every group, every dignitary, and every volunteer who was ready to take part.
Please look after yourselves and each other and stay safe this weekend. If you need a place to cool off, you can learn more about City and County cooling centers here.
On behalf of the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee, thank you for everything you've done for this year's Takoma Park 4th of July Celebration. We look forward to parading with you next year!
Sincerely,
Tara
PARADE ANNOUNCER
John Cornwell
PARADE ORGANIZER
Tara Egan
PARADE DIRECTORS
David Cohen & Gene Herman
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief Richard "Rusty"Willey TPVFD
At the Reviewing Stand: Takoma Park Community Band
DIVISION 1: Directors – John Burg, Jared Garelick, Julius Kassovic, Vijay Kaul, Johnnie Ramos, Howard Sumka
Police Escort
Takoma Park Police Department Color Guard
Chief Antonio DeVaul, Takoma Park Police Department
Grand Marshal: Historic Takoma
In Memory of Roland Dawes
Hon. Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive
Hon. Laurie-Anne Sayles, Montgomery County Council, At-Large
Hon. Jessica Landman, Takoma Park City Council, Ward 1
Hon. Cindy Dyballa, Takoma Park City Council, Ward 2
Hon. Roger Schlegel, Takoma Park City Council, Ward 3
Hon. Cara Honzak, Takoma Park City Council, Ward 5
Principal Iraida Bodre-Woods, East Silver Spring Elementary School
Principal Erin Martin, Takoma Park Middle School
Principal Isabelle Mensah, Rolling Terrace Elementary School
Principal Damon Monteleone, Montgomery Blair High School
Assistant Principal Richard Weerts, Piney Branch Elementary School
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 641
VFW Post #350 Allstars
Sons of the American Legion Post 41 Silver Spring
Veterans for Peace
Intergalactic Peace and Disco-Disclosure
TPIDC Roscoe Float - our thanks to our major contributors
MacMillan United Pipe Band
Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Dept & Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel assigned to the station
DIVISION 2: Directors – Marianne Comfort and Ted Conwell
Takoma Masonic Center
One Leg Up Pets
The People's Republic of the Deep Sea
Talisha 4 Takoma
The Mark H Taiko School
Skibiscuit
Diamond Dancerettes Dance Team
Will Jawando, Montgomery County's next County Executive
Takoma Park Department of Public Works
DIVISION 3: Directors – Nancy Augustine & Carter Dougherty
Takoma Park Child Development Center
Greenbelt Dog Training Marching Drill Team
Axolotl Abundance, by Rainbow Club
First Panamanian Marching Band of Maryland
Cub Scout Pack 33
Maple Community Association
Amy for Takoma Park
Mecca Temple No.10 Strollers Marching Unit
Re-Elect Senator Will Smith
Takoma Park Folk Festival
DIVISION 4: Director – Joelle Rabion & Steve Silverman
Maryland District 19 Democratic Club
Small Things Matter
Panquility
Silver Spring - Takoma Thunderbolts
Weed & Wack of WOWDY GARDENS
Washington Revels
Takoma Park Youth Council
Fraternidad Centro Cultural Bolivia
Sherriff-elect Will Milam
DIVISION 5: Directors – Fiona Grant & Andy Saindon
Blue Styles Brass Band
Statue of Liberty and Auntie Sam
Congressman Jamie Raskin and the Democracy Summer Fellows
WOWD / Takoma Radio
Image Band
FREED (Female RE-Enactors of Distinction)
American Pie
Shana Fulcher for Ward 1
Sirens of Sligo
Community Vision for Takoma
Ethiopian Evangelical Church
DIVISION 6: Directors – Chauncey Cassidy & Mike Parrell
Friends of Lorig Charkoudian
Dance Against DOGE
Montgomery County Democrats United
The Morning Few Band
Christ Embassy Largo
Vespa Club of DC
Falun Dafa
Free DC - Ward 4
Friends of Wylea Chase
That's All Folks - David Cohen & Gene Herman, Parade Directors