Carrollton Civic Club planning July 4th parade for America 250

A new Fourth of July parade is coming to Carrollton in 2026 as local organizers hope to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary while creating a sense of community pride and patriotism throughout the village.

The Carrollton Civic Club will host the 2026 July Fourth Parade Saturday, July 4, beginning at 11 a.m. Lineup for parade participants will begin at 10 a.m. along Third Street NE.

The parade route will follow the traditional Carrollton parade route, traveling south on North Lisbon Street to the square, clockwise around the square, then west on Main Street before disbanding at the intersection of West Main and High streets.

According to Drew Dodds, co-organizer and member of the Carrollton Civic Club, the idea for the parade began in November 2025 after Civic Club members learned there were no plans in place locally for the America 250 celebration.

“There was nothing at all planned in the village for the celebration of America 250,” Dodds said.

Club members worked with village officials to obtain permission for the event and began organizing what they hope becomes a meaningful community celebration.

The parade marks the first time the Carrollton Civic Club has sponsored a Fourth of July parade, and Carrollton does not traditionally host an annual Independence Day parade.

Organizers said they hope the event encourages residents, businesses and organizations throughout the community to decorate homes and storefronts in red, white and blue along the parade route.

“It is our hope that businesses and homes in town and especially on the parade route will decorate in red, white and blue,” Dodds said.

Community organizations interested in participating in the parade can request an entry form by emailing carrolltoncivicclub@gmail.com. Completed forms may be returned to the same address.

Organizers said entry forms will help the village prepare for traffic control and estimate the number of parade units participating.

Candy will be permitted during the parade, though organizers ask participants not to throw candy overhand and to make sure candy lands safely away from moving vehicles.

No political campaign signs, advertisements or campaign-related entries will be permitted in the parade.

Organizers said the decision was intentional in order to keep the focus on unity and celebration during America’s 250th anniversary year.

“This is to celebrate America 250 and be a moment of some unity,” Dodds said.

Dodds said events such as the parade play an important role in small-town communities like Carrollton.

“Events like these are often part of the reason people live in smaller towns versus larger metropolitan areas,” Dodds said.

Dodds said organizers hope spectators leave the parade with a renewed sense of pride in both their country and community.

“We hope people feel pride in the country they live in and pride in the community they are a part of,” Dodds said.

While organizers are focused primarily on making the first parade successful, Dodds said he also hopes future generations continue celebrating milestone anniversaries in Carrollton.

“I do not know that it needs to happen every Fourth, but hopefully in 25 years for the 275th celebration, there is a group that does more than we did to celebrate, much like they did 50 years ago in 1976,” Dodds said.

For Civic Club members, success will simply mean seeing families and residents come together and enjoy the day.

“Everyone that attends having a good time and being able to just enjoy the day and event,” Dodds said.

Asked to describe the atmosphere organizers hope the parade creates, Dodds pointed to a shared sense of patriotism and reflection.

“Pride in the country we live in, based on where we have been and where we are going,” Dodds said.

Updates regarding the parade will be posted on the Carrollton Civic Club Facebook page.