When is it? Sunday, September 27, 2026. The Parade begins at 10 am. The festival exhibits and food sales open at the same time. Live entertainment begins at noon. The Parade lasts about 90 minutes, depending upon the number of participants. The festival ends at 5pm. Apply here.

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The parade and festival take place “rain or shine.”  In case of severe weather, the decision to cancel will be made early the morning of September 27 and will be posted on this website and our Facebook & Instagram pages.

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What is the Wheaton Arts Parade? It is a day for citizens, artists, businesses, and civic organizations to come together, walking to celebrate art and the Wheaton community. The day is inspired by the parade and the closure of roadways to motor vehicles so that people can walk and dance, play music and show off their art. The parade liberates the community's creative spirit from the confines of everyday life. Freed from their cars, people can appreciate Wheaton at a slower pace, as a walkable community. The highway becomes a path toward creativity and the arts parade calls the community to follow. The parade leads to a festival that continues the celebration of art and Wheaton's diversity.

 

The festival brings the community together to listen to music, watch dance, see paintings and sculpture, to talk to each other, eat, drink and even make art. It is a chance for artists to exhibit and sell their work, but it's just as important for local artists to be appreciated by the community and for the community to see Wheaton's potential as an arts destination.

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Where does the parade take place? The parade starts at the intersection of Ennalls and Grandview Avenues in Wheaton, MD and walks up Ennalls to Georgia Avenue where it turns right and walks south to Reedie Drive where it turns right and right again onto Triangle Lane. It walks up Triangle Lane and around the new county office building to Grandview Ave where it turns left and marches down Grandview Ave to Reedie Drive. The parade ends after passing the reviewing stand and disperses with floats being placed around the Marian Fryer Town Plaza and festival area. Click here for a map of the parade route.

 

Where does the festival take place? The festival area encompasses the Marian Fryer Town Plaza at 2424 Reedie Dr, on Grandview Ave, Triangle Lane and in Parking Lot #13. 

Click here to see a map of the festival area.

 

Where is the best place to watch the parade? The sidewalks along Grandview Ave, Triangle Lane and the West side of Georgia Ave offer excellent views. The parade stops along the way to give dancers and bands a chance to perform. Spectators also enjoy watching the parade from the festival area as it passes the reviewing stand.

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Where can we park? The WMATA garage on Veirs Mill Rd, and the parking lot at Price and Fern Sts, are the recommended locations for parking. The parking lot on Ennalls Ave reopens after the parade. There is another county parking garage on Amherst Ave between University Blvd and Reedie Dr.

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How much does it cost to attend the parade & festival? The parade and festival are FREE to attend. It's FREE to walk in the parade and artists who walk in the parade get a discount on their festival booth.

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Do I have to be an artist to be in the parade? On this day, everyone can be an artist. All you need to be in the parade is to make some art and carry it, pull it, push it, wear it, or perform it. Art is a painting, sculpture, mask, puppet, costume, dance, song, a drum beat, whatever. You can walk alone or as a group -- as a family and neighbors, as a community organization, as a school or business. The most important thing is to have fun. Children younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Do I have to live in Wheaton to walk in the parade? No. The parade invites ALL to participate from far and wide. Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, if you can create some art to push, pull, carry, wear or perform, you are invited. As a Maryland Arts and Entertainment District, Wheaton hopes to attract artists to live and work in the area and the parade is one way of showing that Wheaton is an arts friendly community and an arts destination. If you live in the Wheaton area, please join in and strut your stuff.

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What kind of art can be in the parade? There are no limits to the kinds of art that can be in the parade as long as it is "hand made" and is “people-powered.” Motorized vehicles are NOT permitted. The content of parade art is as unlimited as the imagination, but art makers should keep in mind that the spectators will include families and children. The parade is a celebration of art and does not split hairs about the definition of art or the distinction between art and design. However, art/design that has the purpose of marketing a real business or product or promoting a real political campaign is NOT permitted. But this does not mean that your art cannot have a social, political or economic message. Awaken us, enlighten us, amuse us! Parade art can be grouped into four categories: 1) Art you can wear: costumes & masks, puppets & other objects; 2) art you can carry: puppets & banners, posters & signs; 3) art you can push or pull: floats of all sizes; and 4) art you can perform: musicians, bands and dance groups. In making your parade art, there are three important considerations: scale, mobility, and stability. The parade is outdoors and spectators cannot get a close look at your art from the sidewalk. Therefore, the scale of artwork needs to be large enough to be to be seen and appreciated from a distance.  Parade art needs to be light enough to be worn or carried or able to be moved on some kind of wheeled platform. Art also needs to be structurally sound enough to survive a half-mile walk and the shaking from bumps in the road and possible gusts of wind. Art makers need to make sure there are enough people on hand to get the art safely to the reviewing stand. The more the merrier. At the end of the parade, floats are displayed at the festival area, but you need to make arrangements to remove your float and parade art after the festival ends at 5PM.​

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Can I perform at the festival? Musicians, dancers, and performers of all kind can entertain while marching in the parade or on one of the three festival stages. Festival entertainment ranges from puppeteers to poets, from rock music to rap, from Irish dance to tap. If you want to perform, just apply and tell us what you would like to do. Entertainment is free to the public and performers are not paid, but if funds are available, performers will receive a modest honorarium to cover their costs. Your performance is a gift to the community and will be publicized on our website and in the printed program. 

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Who can sell art and exhibit at the festival? The festival is a showcase for artists from Wheaton and Montgomery County, however artists from outside the area are invited to exhibit and sell their work. Community organizations, government agencies, political candidates, and sponsors also may rent tented festival spaces to promote their organizations. However, they too are expected to use their exhibit space for some kind of art related activity or display. Because of the limited availability of tented spaces, priority will be given to local artists. There is a fee to have a tented festival space. Prices are set to encourage participation in the parade and to provide discounts for artists and community organizations. Fees are listed below and on the application form.

 

Can a business exhibit at the festival? Only businesses that sponsor the event may have a tented exhibit space at the festival. They also are expected to use their exhibit space for some kind of art related activity or display. A Sponsor's tent may be staffed by the business's representatives and printed materials about the business may be distributed. Sponsors' tents are complimentary for Platinum and Gold level sponsors. Silver and Bronze level sponsors must pay $200 to cover the cost of the tent, table and chairs. No video or audio advertising is permitted at the festival.

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How much does a tented exhibit booth cost? The festival tented spaces are approximately 10' x 10' and come with a 6 ft table, 2 folding chairs and signage. Art vendors and exhibitors may bring additional tables, chairs and stands for display provided they do not encroach upon adjacent spaces or the walkway. Because there is a limited number of tented spaces available selection of vendors and exhibitors will be guided by WAP's aim to present a diverse collection of art mediums and styles with priority given to local artists.

Fees for festival booths:

• Artist  - $250

• Artist sharing a festival booth - $150 each

• Arts organizations - $350

• Performers - $250

 

There is a $50 BOOTH FEE REFUND to exhibitors who also walk in the parade ($25 for each for shared booths.) We sincerely hope you will consider walking in the parade. It's a lot of fun. We realize you will have to have someone in your booth watching your art while you are in the parade, but the experience is worth the effort. Artists are the only businesses allowed to promote themselves in the parade and they will be recognized by the master of ceremonies as they reach the reviewing stand with their art.

Tented exhibit spaces are available to community organizations, government agencies, political campaigns and sponsors at the Bronze level or higher. In addition to promoting your organization, exhibitors should promote the arts in some manner or have free art making activities. Please note that the number of tented exhibit spaces is limited and preference will be given to artists if there are not enough spaces to accommodate all applicants.

 

Applications for tented festival booths are accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2025 or until all spaces are allocated. If you are accepted you will receive an email notification and a link to make your payment.

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What kind of art can be sold at the festival? All artwork and crafts must be made by the vendor/exhibitor. Art must be original and must not infringe on copyrighted material. Imports, items made from kits, items using commercial patterns, items made from elephant or whale ivory, commercial t-shirts, or art supplies not made by the vendor MAY NOT be sold. Art created during the parade or festival MAY be sold. The vendor is responsible for all transactions, including the collection of sales tax. There is no state income tax on revenue generated in Wheaton's Arts & Entertainment District. An important goal of the festival is for the community to meet local artists as well as their art. Therefore, the artist vendor is expected to be at their booth throughout the day, as much as possible. It is the artists responsibility to ensure that the booth is staffed at all times. Tear down must not begin before 5pm and should be finished by 6pm.