Parade Route Adjustment: Beginning in 2025, the Takoma Park 4th of July parade route will be entirely in Takoma Park, MD. The parade will turn right at Willow Ave, left at Tulip Ave, and right at Maple Ave, continuing then along its traditional route.
In the past, the DC portion of the parade route was arranged through an informal agreement with DC. In 2023 the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee learned that a formal arrangement would be required by DC going forwards. As we learned in 2024, the administrative and financial requirements of securing the necessary permitting through DC's special event process are quite extensive. It is not possible for the Committee to meet the burden of those requirements going forwards and still deliver a great 4th of July Celebration in Takoma Park. We have therefore made the difficult decision that the parade route will stay entirely in Takoma Park going forwards. We appreciate that some community members may be disappointed, as are we. But we are confident that this is the right step for the future of the Takoma Park 4th of July parade.
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Parade Where and When
Parade begins at 10:00 am on July 4 and lasts about 2 hours.​
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MAP
Directions
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If you are familiar with the area, these are your main options: (1) Follow MD-410 (East-West Hwy.) east from Montgomery County or west from Prince George's County to the parade route, (2) follow Georgia Ave. south from Montgomery County or north from Washington, DC, then take MD 410 west to the parade route, or (3) follow any road to the beltway I-495 and follow the directions below for those from out of the local area.
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From out of the local area: Take I-95, I-66, I-270 US-50, US-1, or whatever route is convenient to the Washington Beltway, I-495. Proceed to New Hampshire Avenue (MD-650) and take the Takoma Park exit (28) south. Continue about 3.25 miles to MD Route 410 (this is called East West Highway on your left and Ethan Allen Avenue on your right). There is a big U-Haul facility across the intersection on the left. Turn right onto Ethan Allen Avenue (MD Route 410 West). Proceed to the first traffic light (about .7 mile) - you will see the Takoma Park - Silver Spring Coop store on the left and a Texaco station across the street on the right - this is where the parade starts.
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For Metrorail information: Take the Red Line to the Takoma station. When you exit the station continue straight ahead up the street to the right of The Arbor at Takoma (i.e. walk up Carroll Street). One block up from there is the corner of Maple Avenue and Carroll Street, which is the 2nd turn in the parade route - there is a CVS Pharmacy on the right side across Maple Avenue. You can watch the parade from Maple Avenue to the left, from Carroll Street along the two blocks ahead, or along Carroll Avenue to the left at the end of Carroll Street. Refer to the Viewing Area section above for more information.
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For local bus information, visit Montgomery County Ride On.
Rain Date
There is no rain date. It just isn't possible to reschedule and coordinate all of the participants, volunteers, committee members, as well as all of the police, fire, and public works personnel for a second day.
Takoma Park Independence Day Committee Stand
​Please visit the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee stand in front of the the Takoma Park Community Center, where you can buy raffle tickets or t-shirts to support the Celebration, and learn more about this year's Parade and Evening Street Party.
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The main roads which are part of the parade route will be blocked off at 9:00 AM.
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The parade starts at the intersection of Carroll and Ethan Allen Aves and travels South on Carroll Ave to Willow Ave, where it turns right. The parade turns left at Tulip Ave, then right at Maple Ave. It then travels down Maple Ave to the Ritchie Ave, where the parade disbands. Note that this route forms a U which brings the parade back to within just a few blocks of its starting point - it is just 2 blocks along Philadelphia Avenue from Carroll Avenue at the Firehouse to Maple Avenue at the Community Center.
VIEWING AREA
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Along Carroll Avenue from the intersection with Ethan Allen Avenue south to Willow Ave There is shade between Philadelphia Avenue and Tulip Avenue.
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Along Willow Avenue from Carroll Avenue to Tulip Avenue.
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Along Tulip Avenue from Willow Avenue to Maple Avenue.
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Along Maple Avenue between Tulip Avenue and Ritchie Avenue. There is lots of shade until you get past Philadelphia Avenue, so this stretch is also the most crowded.
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Near and across from the reviewing stand in front of the Piney Branch Elementary School. There is no shade along here. Many of our vendors are located in this area.