For Immediate Release: Friday, November 8, 2024

Montgomery County's annual Thanksgiving Parade, the largest in the Washington, D.C. region, is set to fill downtown Silver Spring with holiday cheer starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. This year's festivities will include marching bands, community floats, County Executive Marc Elrich, members of the County Council and local Olympians Thea LaFond of Dominica and Aaron Ghebre Owusu of Eritrea.

Ms. LaFond, who lives in Silver Spring, set a new national record for her birth country, securing a historic first Olympic gold medal for Dominica in the women's triple jump in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Mr. Owusu represented his homeland as he competed in the men's 50-meter freestyle swim in Paris.

ABC7's First Alert Weather Team's Eileen Whelan will kick off the parade with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The parade route will start at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street, proceed south on Georgia Avenue and conclude at Silver Spring Avenue.

"The Thanksgiving Parade is a Montgomery County tradition that brings our community together to celebrate the start of the holiday season with friends, family and neighbors," said County Executive Elrich. "This year, we are pleased to welcome local Olympians, talented performers and our dedicated community groups to make the day even more special. This parade highlights the diversity and vibrancy that we love about Montgomery County. It is always fun to see so many people out on the streets in Silver Spring."

Attendees can look forward to a festive lineup of more than 150 units, including community groups, local marching bands, vibrant floats, mascots and live performances by the Akhmedova Ballet Academy and Maryland Youth Ballet. The parade's lineup also will include stilt walkers, a giant T-Rex and a penguin inflatable. There will be holiday characters including performing dogs, Hannukah bears, reindeer and Santa Claus himself. Dance and marching band performances will occur near the parade's starting point.

Thanksgiving Parade organizers are seeking volunteers 13 and older to participate as costumed characters, including elves and ribbon twirlers. Volunteers must be available from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and should report to the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place in Silver Spring. For more details and to sign up, visit Volunteer for the Parade.

"Montgomery County's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a great way to bring community members together to help kick off the start of the holiday season," said Council President Andrew Friedson. "Thanksgiving reminds each of us to be grateful for the blessings and freedoms we enjoy as well as the responsibility we all share to give back and serve residents across our diverse community. The Council appreciates the hard work of the Montgomery County government employees and volunteers who help organize and run this family friendly event to help uplift our community each year."

The parade will take place rain or shine. For more information, visit the official parade website or call 240-777-0311.

To accommodate the parade, road closures will be in place from 6 a.m-1 p.m. on Nov. 16:

• North and Southbound lanes of Georgia Ave., from East-West Highway to Colesville Road.
• Cedar Street between Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue.
• Pershing Drive from Cedar Street to Veterans Place.
• Veterans Place from Pershing Drive to Ellsworth Drive.
• Ellsworth Drive from Georgia Avenue to Cedar Street.
• Roeder Road from Fenton Street to Cedar Street.
• Fenton Street from Cameron Street to Wayne Avenue.
• Wayne Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
• Bonifant Street from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
• Thayer Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
• Silver Spring Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.

Public parking is available in garages on Sligo Avenue, Cameron Street and Bonifant Street. (The Ellsworth Town Center garage will close to the public at 2 a.m. on Nov. 16.) Attendees are encouraged to take the Metro Red Line to the Silver Spring Station for easy access to the parade route.

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Release ID: 24-508
Media Contact: Elizabeth Gallauresi 301-793-2928
Categories: Consumer, Holiday, Volunteer

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