10th ANNUAL WHEATON ARTS PARADE & FESTIVAL

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARADERS

SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 10 am - 5 pm 

 

ARRIVE AT PARADE CHECK-IN  7:30 am TO 9:15 am

PARADE LINE-UP IN PARADE ORDER 9:30 am

PARADE RUNS 10 am TO 11:30 am

TIME TO WALK ½ MILE PARADE ROUTE = 30-40 MINUTES 

 

Points of Contact:

Parade Coordinator: Chris Lindsley, chris@wheatonartsparade.org, 443-610-1956 

Festival Vendor Coordinator: James Tretick, james@wheatonartsparade.org, 301-704-6111 

Stage Performance Coordinator: Ingrid Gorman, ingridgorman@gmail.com, 301-351-2451

WAP Exec Director: Dan Thompson, danthompson@wheatonartsparade.org, 301-949-3727

 

General Information

 

• “RAIN OR SHINE.”  Please check the forecast and dress accordingly. If there is a threat of showers, please bring rain gear. In case of severe weather, the decision to cancel will be made around 6 am on the morning of September 27 and will be posted on the WAP website, Facebook page, and Instagram account. Be sure to bring sunblock and a hat and stay hydrated.

 

• PARKING: PREFERRED parking options are the WMATA garage on Veirs Mill Road (enter next to Wendy’s,) the Westfield Wheaton Shopping Center parking lot, and the Price/Fern Lot behind the Safeway. The Amherst Garage is also an option but a longer walk. PARKING IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR PARADERS IN THE GRANDVIEW AVE GARAGE.

 

• RESTROOMS: Portable toilets are located at both ends of Grandview Ave. Public restrooms in the county office building are accessible from the Grandview Ave pedestrian entrance to the parking garage.

 

• PROMOTION: Help promote this unifying event! We will be sending you a media kit soon with the resources you need to promote the Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival. We ask that you share our flyers and invite others to join in. Tag and share Wheaton Arts Parade on Facebook and @wheatonartsparade on Instagram. Also, use the hashtags #wheatonartsparade, #wheatonartsparadeandfestival and #wapf2026. 

 

• FAQs: Parade policies are found in our FAQs at https://www.wheatonartsparade.org/faqs.

 

PARADERS’ INSTRUCTIONS: HAVE FUN. SHOW OFF YOUR ART AND ENGAGE THE SPECTATORS. BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER PARADERS AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF PARADE STAFF.

 

• DROP-OFF:  (SEE MAP BELOW) USE ENNALLS AVE FROM VEIRS MILL WESTBOUND OR GRANDVIEW AVE FROM UNIVERSITY BLVD. ENNALLS AVE WILL CLOSE AT 9:00 AND REOPEN AFTER THE PARADE. CARS DROPPING OFF PARADERS MAY NOT ENTER THE FESTIVAL AREA.

•  

• EXITING AFTER DROP-OFF: DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE INTO THE FESTIVAL AREA. Those using Ennalls Ave exit via Grandview Ave to University Blvd.. Those using Grandview make a U-turn at Ennalls Ave, drop off paraders, and exit up to University Blvd.

•  

• CHECK-IN: The parade check-in desk located at the corner of Ennals and Grandview Avenues. Check-in starts at 7:30 am and you need to be checked-in and in your assembly area ready to parade by 9:30 am (See your assembly area in #18, parade order, below.). After you are dropped off, have one person in your group go to the check-in table. The rest should go to their assigned assembly area. If alone, go directly to the check-in table. Confirm your name or group name, your parade order and the accuracy of your introductory remarks that the emcee will use to announce as you pass the reviewing stand. Know who is in front and in back of you in the lineup.

• LATE ARRIVALS: If you arrive after 9:30 am, GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR ASSEMBLY AREA SPOT and tell the volunteer staff you are a late arrival. (Your assembly spot is listed below in the parade order.)

 

• PARADE ASSEMBLY:  7:30-9:30 am. Paraders are assigned to one of 2 assembly areas (see maps and tables below):

  • ASSEMBLY 1:  Parking Lot 13, on Grandview Ave

  • ASSEMBLY 2:  Parking Lot 34, on Ennalls Ave

 

Within each assembly area there are assigned spots for paraders to gather according to their position in the parade. Paraders should assemble in their designated spots to be in the correct parade order for the emcees and the spectators to know who you are as you pass. Be in your Assembly Area Section by 9:30 am.

 

• PARADE ORDER:  See list below (#18). It is very important to maintain this order so the emcees can introduce you when you reach the reviewing stand near the end of the parade. If you accidentally get out of order, let a volunteer know asap so the emcee at the reviewing stand can be informed.

• FLOATS:  If you have a small float, you should bring it with you to your assembly station. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE FLOAT, LET US KNOW ASAP so we can list it in the program. It will be assigned a place in the line of floats on Ennalls Ave. Float pullers should stand by their float. There will be a volunteer by the floats to tell you when to merge into the parade. Some floats have a side that should face the spectators, if it is facing the wrong way, turn it around.

• JOINING THE PARADE FROM THE ASSEMBLY AREAS: Volunteer Staff will manage the release of paraders onto Ennalls Ave starting with ASSEMBLY AREA 1. While you are waiting, identify the group or person listed in the program in front of you. Follow them in the parade. Also, identify the group that is supposed to be behind you. Paraders in Assembly Area 1 will join the parade first, exiting the assembly area in a counterclockwise rotation followed by Assembly Area 2.

• PACING & SPACING: The parade moves at a leisurely, sometimes slow pace. Allow about 3 car lengths between groups so that spectators get to appreciate each group before another one arrives. But don’t get spaced so far apart that spectators can’t appreciate the parade as a continuous flow. Try not to bunch up. Entertain the crowd. Please feel free to interact with the spectators. Do not throw things or hand out ANYTHING from the parade - this is not permitted. The parade will get backed up once paraders reach the reviewing stand because they pause to be introduced. Bands and dancers may have 1 minute to perform at the reviewing stand. Please respect that the rest of the parade is waiting behind you. 

• PASSING THE REVIEWING STAND:  Grandview Ave is downhill and the parade has to move to the left of the yellow traffic barricades as it reaches the Reviewing Stand. The reviewing stand will be to your right. The Emcees will introduce you with the words you provided. Floats and paraders should pause briefly while being introduced. If they get your group’s name wrong or don’t know who you are, just shout it out to them. If you have a short routine, LESS THAN ONE MINUTE, please perform it and exit quickly to make room for the next group. Give the performers at the reviewing stand room to move around. Don’t bunch up.

• AT THE END OF THE PARADE: After passing the reviewing stand, paraders should DISPERSE TO THE LEFT UP REEDIE DR AND ONTO THE PLAZA. If you need to go to your car across Veirs Mill Rd, USE the walkway behind the Plaza Stage. Do not walk up Triangle Lane until the entire parade has passed. Take your stuff to your car or festival booth or find a place along the parade route to watch the rest of the parade. 

• FLOAT PULLERS, STAY WITH YOUR FLOAT!  Pull floats into the Marian Fryer Town Plaza. After the entire parade has started up Triangle Lane, staff will direct some floats to be pulled up Triangle Lane to Assembly Area 1, which becomes part of the festival area. Float pullers should secure their floats (tie them up to a parking meter, sign or tent post and activate the brakes so that they will not roll or blow away. Float pullers should stay with their floats until after the National Anthem, when staff will direct them where to station their floats for the afternoon.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The parade route is about 1/2 mile long. Paraders will walk slowly on mostly level paved streets. FLOAT OPERATORS must be prepared to slow/stop their float. Going downhill, the rear operator is the brake. If you have difficulty walking in the parade and are unable to continue walking for any reason, step to the side of the parade and signal to one of the WAP volunteers for assistance.

• WHAT IF YOU ARE PERFORMING OR EXHIBITING?  There will be a separate email coming to you, if you have signed up and are confirmed to perform or exhibit.  

• PARADE POLICIES:  Everyone in the parade must be pushing, pulling, carrying, wearing or performing art or be in a group with group art. NO CAMPAIGNING. NO ADVERTISING, except for signage that identifies who made the art. No pets. No throwing anything (including candy) from the parade. If you have questions about parade policy or need guidance on eligible parade art or signage, PLEASE CONSULT THE FAQs:  https://www.wheatonartsparade.org/faqs or write to us at info@wheatonartsparade.org. 

​

PARADE ORDER: 

When arriving at the Parade, go to the Check-In Desk to announce your arrival and confirm your parade order. Things may have changed since these instructions were issued.  Reconfirm your assembly area (See assembly area map, above), your parade order, and your introduction at the parade check-in desk. There will be a parade volunteer in each assembly area for assistance. Floats are highlighted in tan. ​