Deadline has been extended to Friday, May 9. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until then.

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Do you have an idea for something creative, artistic, funky, or otherwise awesome or unexpected to add to this year’s Takoma Park 4th of July parade?

 

Please apply for a grant to help your idea come to life!

 

THE BASICS

 

Takoma Park’s 4th of July Parade is seeking new parade entries that embody and amplify the Parade’s “Weird and Wonderful” history. We are seeking proposals from anyone who has a new idea that would bring something creative, artistic, funky, or otherwise awesome or unexpected to this year’s parade. Interested? Please submit a brief 1–2-page informal proposal of your idea by April 28, 2025 to be considered.

 

WHAT WE’LL PROVIDE

 

If your application is selected, we’ll provide you with up to $500 for you to bring your parade entry idea to life.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

 

Who: you can be an individual or any kind of group – a group of friends, family, an organization, or anything else. You don’t need to live or work in Takoma Park. You are more than welcome to apply if you’ve received a grant in the past, but your idea must be new; you can’t get a grant for an idea that you or anyone else has brought to the parade in the past.

What: you must participate in the parade as a parade entry (“group”) executing the creative idea you propose. Your idea could be to build something new or repurpose something existing. It could be a “float” or vehicle, or a group of folks walking, rolling, bicycling, or anything else. We’re open to your ideas!

Where & When: Takoma Park’s 4th of July Parade takes place on July 4, 2025 from 10:00am until 11:30am. You must be able to participate in the parade as a parade group at this time.

 

HOW TO APPLY

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Please email a 1–2-page informal proposal to us at contactus@takomapark4th.org by May 9, 2025. Your proposal should include:
 

• What do you want to do or create?

• Why do you think it will add value and diversity to the parade?

• Simple budget to show the costs of realizing your idea

• Who will you work with to bring the project to completion?

• Any info that will help us feel confident that you can execute your vision (e.g., list of primary areas of work and estimated time to complete them, partners or experts you will tap, relevant experience you bring, other financial support)

• Any visuals you can add to help explain your proposal (optional but very helpful)

 

 

THE DETAILS

 

The Committee will select chosen applicants and notify them as soon as possible, but no later than Tuesday, May 13 2025. This provides over 7 weeks to execute your vision in time for your participation in the July 4th parade.

 

Selection criteria will include creativity, uniqueness, and impact. The Committee reserves the right to select fewer or no applicants at its discretion.

 

Parade entries selected for Weird and Wonderful Grants will not be eligible to receive prizes.