July 4th Celebration Parade Application

Apply to be a part of the 2026 Harrisburg July 4th Celebration Parade!

9am on July 4, 2026

Hwy 49

Please review the attached Harrisburg July 4th Parade Rules and Regulations. 

1. LOCATION & DATE: The parade will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2026.  The parade will begin promptly at 9:00am. Parade line up will occur at various locations along Caldwell Road and Highway 49. Your specific time and location will be included with your confirmation which will be mailed to you prior to the parade. You must have submitted an application, been accepted and received a parade number to participate.
2. APPLICATIONS: Maximum of 125 entries will be accepted.  No more than two applications / entries will be accepted per individual, business or entity. No more than five (5) vehicles, cars, trucks, etc. longer than 12’ each will be allowed per entry. (Total Maximum: 10 cars, trucks, vehicles in one convoy). Applications must be received at the Harrisburg Parks & Recreation office with the appropriate entry fee by June 12, 2026 at 5:00pm. Application will be accepted on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED  basis as received; parade space is limited. Submission of an application does not guarantee a space. To reserve your space, please submit your application promptly.  Parade entries not accepted for participation will have their fees returned within 2-4 weeks of receipt.
3. CONFIRMATION: Confirmations will be sent 3 days prior to parade.  You will receive a confirmation for a specific line-up location; including a specific time for you to arrive at your location. If you are not in place or arrive late your space will not be available. Please remember not everyone can be at the front of the parade.
4. LINE-UP TIMES: The Harrisburg July 4th Parade will be announced and live streamed; therefore you must arrive at your assigned line-up location by your assigned time. Anyone arriving late will not be guaranteed a spot in the parade.
5. RESTRICTIONS: The Harrisburg July 4th Parade & Celebration is a family oriented festival. Any presentation or representation either immoral or in bad taste is not allowed: • Toys/guns/balloons are prohibited. • The use of open flame is prohibited. • Horse/Animal entries will have a special area to unload/load.  Entrants are required to clean up area before departing and throughout parade route.  Manure bags are required. All animals must be in good medical health and be able to cope with crowds, heat, loud noises and other animals. • If you will be giving out candy, beads, advertising materials, etc… you must provide a walker to assure the safety of the parade spectators and collect items not reaching the curb. DO NOT throw items from your vehicle or float. Use extreme caution if handing out items. Safety of our spectators is critical. • Only parade entries will be admitted to the line-up lots; non-entries may not be parked in parade lots. • Drivers and all vehicles participating in the parade must have insurance as required by the State of North Carolina. Drivers must also possess a valid driver’s license.  The owner warrants that the vehicle(s) is/are in sound mechanical condition with no known defects or safety concerns. • Parade entries/floats may not maintain a height above 14 ½ ft. per the Department of Transportation. • Parade units are expected to leave their areas clean and orderly. • With the exception of military, police, fire, EMS and invited guests, eligibility to participate in the Parade is limited to those units specifically approved by the Harrisburg Parks & Recreation Department. • All Safety Laws must be obeyed and will be enforced.  Riders on the roof or hood of vehicles are not permitted. • All walking units must continue moving forward, no stopping to perform! Any unit that does not conform to this rule will not be allowed to participate in future parades
6. REMOVAL FROM PARADE/EJECTION: Anyone refusing to follow the instructions of the Town Officials or Parade Volunteers will be asked to leave the parade and/or parade line up.  Once parade begins, no one is permitted to join your vehicle.  Anyone attempting to stop the parade to climb in/on a vehicle or float will be removed from the area, and forfeit future entry into the parade.  As a safety precaution, riders must be on their float prior to entering parade line-up area.  You will not be able to drop off float riders at the parade line-up site. We reserve the right to accept or reject any parade entries.Harrisburg July 4th Celebration Parade Saturday, July 4, 2026 - 9am 2026 Parade Rules and Regulations
7. REFUND POLICY: Application fees will be deposited upon approval.  Automatic refunds will be made to any parade entry not accepted to participate in the parade. No other refunds will be issued.  Fees for parade entry are listed on application. No fees are required for Military, EMS, Fire, Medic, Police, or Sponsors, but application must be submitted for parade line-up.
8. ANNOUNCING: We make no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the parade announcing. Based on the appropriateness of information provided, every effort will be made to announce some or all of the information you provide.
9. PARADE ROUTE: The parade will begin at Captain Steve’s Restaurant on Highway 49. The parade will travel north down Highway 49 and end at Robinson Ave.—the road right before the Lowes Foods Shopping Center. Parade participants will be directed to turn right onto Robinson Ave., then left onto School Circle which will take you to Harrisburg Veterans Road. Please familiarize yourself with the parade route prior to the parade. Traffic cones and the Sheriff’s Department will be on site to help direct you.
10. NOTICE: Harrisburg Parks & Recreation reserves the right to accept or reject any application.  We also reserve the right to remove any parade participant/group/entry/float that does not follow the rules and regulations as established for this event. Please make sure you have listed a valid email address on your application. Email communication of the parade route, any changes made to the parade route, and parade numbers and line-up locations will be emailed out prior to the parade.  
11. INFORMATION: If you have questions, please contact McKenzie Fernez at mfernez@harrisburgnc.gov or Erin Kegley-Parris at ekegley@harrisburgnc.gov. You may also call the Harrisburg Parks and Recreation Department at: 704-455-7275.