Independence Day Celebration

Parade and general event information

VIEW PHOTOS OF OUR 2024 July 4th Celebration!

Rotary prepping for 62nd year of staging city’s July 4th

Preparations are under way for the Rotary Club’s annual staging of Westerville’s 2024 Independence Day Celebration, which it has done since 1962.

All events for 2024 are scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 4 — including the 5K Walk/Run, State Street Parade, the Concert Series and Food Truck Festival, and of course the Fireworks Show.

Another morning parade!

The Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Parade will step off on State Street at 10:30 a.m., after 2022’s highly successful move of the parade from the afternoon to the morning of the Fourth.

The parade route will remain as in recent years, beginning at Old County Line Road and proceeding south to Electric Avenue.

Staging will begin in the parking lot of St. Paul Catholic Church, 313 N. State St., at 9 a.m.

62nd year for Rotary leadership

2024 will mark 62 years since our Rotary Club of Westerville began helping to stage Westerville’s Independence Day!

In 1962, we joined with the Westerville Jaycees in sponsoring the Citywide Westerville Independence Day Celebration, and in 1968, we took over sole responsibility – with of course huge annual assistance from the City of Westerville Fire and Police Divisions, Electric Division, Public Service Department, and Parks & Recreation, Departments!

Well, some of those didn’t exist in 1962 or 1968 – but all of those city departments sure play a major role in helping us stage the community’s Fourth of July today!

We are very excited to again stage the Westerville Independence Day Parade for 2024 at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 4.

2024 theme: ‘Red, White and Blue … America! For Me and You!’

The 2024 celebration theme again was chosen by a Westerville elementary school student, in the Rotary’s annual contest to pick the parade theme, open to school district youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Madison Adams, daughter of Bryce and Melissa Adams of Westerville, submitted the winning entry for 2024: “Red, White and Blue … America! For Me and You!” Madison, a second-grade student at Cherrington Elementary wins $100 from the Rotary Club of Westerville and gets to ride in a place of honor in the parade with a friend of family members – aboard the Rotary Club of Westerville float! Her classroom also received a pizza party, in recognition of his winning entry in the Rotary’s Parade Theme Contest.

A pizza party is held for another elementary school classroom, in a drawing among the classes in which 100 percent of the students participated in the contest.

Build a float and join us in the big parade!

Local civic organizations, sports and school groups, and neighborhoods are encouraged to get their own entries together for the 2023 Parade.

Whether you plan to walk as a group or construct an elaborate float, the Rotary Club of Westerville welcomes your involvement. Click on the “Parade Registration Form and FAQs” graphic below to get going!

Westerville North’s cheer squad marches in the 2022 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Parade.

The Westerville Honor Guard marches in the 2022 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Parade.

Other events in our

Independence Day fun

The Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Celebration also includes:

Our 5K Walk/Run at the Westerville Athletic Complex, beginning at 8 a.m. A Veterans Honor Guard Ceremony will take place at the city’s new Veterans Memorial at the park at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Kids Fun Run dashes about 7:45 a.m.
Our Free Concert Series and Food Truck Festival, also at the Athletic Complex, from 5 -9:45 p.m.
The Westerville Independence Day Fireworks Show, being launched again from the Heritage Park near Everal Barn, at 10 p.m.

Be in the Westerville Independence Day Parade like Camden Kuhlman, who picked last year’s theme and gets to ride on the Rotary Club of Westerville float! CLICK PARADE INFO and ENTRY FORM!

Come out to join in our 2024 daylong community celebration of Independence Day on Thursday, July 4!