The Ann Arbor 4th of July Parade is back for 2026.
As is traditional, the parade is at 10a on July 4th in Downtown Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor July 4 Parade 2026
The Ann Arbor Jaycees 4th of July Parade will follow its mostly traditional route. It will start on State St at William and run north to Liberty. Then it runs west on Liberty to Main St. It turns south on Main Street until William and concludes at Thompson.
The parade will step off at State and William at 10am. Expect it to take 15 minutes to reach Main St.
Fourth of July Parade Ann Arbor Route
The Ann Arbor Jaycees 4th of July Parade will follow its mostly traditional route. It will start on State St at N. University and run north to Liberty. Then it runs west on Liberty to Main St. It turns south on Main Street until William and concludes at Thompson.
The parade will be staging on William and Maynard,
Thoughts on Recent Parades
In recent years we have been disappointed with a shorter parade than years past. A combination of downtown construction, late city approvals, relocation to the mall for a year, and the pandemic have affected participation.
I still hope to see the parade return to its former length with all our local community groups participating.
Pre-Parade Activities
If you arrive early, you can pickup breakfast or coffee from local shops and cheer on Firecracker 5K runners. Be sure to check our closure article for ideas on where to stop. Last year we went to Ondo.
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Spectator Tips for Ann Arbor Parade
The parade is typically LONG. The last couple of years we attended, my husband and I watched the parade near the start. From the timestamp on my photos of the first and last groups, I was able to capture parade length:
- 2015 parade – 53 minutes
- 2016 parade – 43 minutes
- 2017 parade – 41 minutes
- 2019 parde – 42 minutes
- 2022 parade – 20 minutes
- 2023 parade -20 minutes
- 2024 parade – 34 minutes
- 2025 parade – 28 minutes
The 2022 & 2023 parades were considerably shorter than normal. In 2022 they, had a shorter, modified route due to construction and also had a limited staging area. The 2023 parade was at Briarwood Mall the weekend before the 4th. The 2024 parade reversed this trend, and we hope to see a continued increase in parade participation. While talking to the Jaycees last year, they received very late approval from the city.
When to Arrive
Plan to arrive early to get the best seat – particularly if you want to be on State St, Main St, or want a seat in the shade!
The Firecracker 5K is typically held before the parade starting at 8a.
Where to Park for the Ann Arbor Jaycees Parade 2026
With road closures from the Firecracker 5K and the parade staging areas, the best place to park will depend on what part of town you arrive from. Typically the 4th & William, Library Lane, and Maynard structures are within the closure perimeter. Do not plan to park there! University garage on Thayer is also typically inside the closure route. We have parked in both the Thompson Garage and the Fletcher garage near the Power Center.
We usually come from either the south or the east. For years when my daughter was in the parade, we parked in the UM Thompson structure. More recently, we’ve been parking in the Fletcher lot by the Power Center. My husband has a UM blue parking pass, but parking is not enforced in most main campus garages on university holidays (permits are enforced on the medical campus).
What to Bring to the 4th of July Parade Ann Arbor
Yes, even as spectators you should come to the parade prepared.
At a minimum I would bring a bag for candy/literature/goodies. If you have multiple children, separate bags may be a good idea to prevent fighting over who the goodies belong to. I also suggest a separate bag to recycle all the political handouts so they can go straight in the recycling bin….especially if you don’t live in the city of Ann Arbor and aren’t eligible to vote for many of the candidates.
Since the parade is outdoors, I suggest sun screen and water bottles.
I suggest bringing chairs to sit in along the route.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department has held a Firefighter’s Spray Park on Maynard after the parade. We don’t see a 2026 announcement (as of May 25), but hopefully it will be back soon. The spraypark is a lot of fun! But, you’ll want to be prepared with towels and maybe a change of clothes for the ride home.
Summary:
- Bag for candy/goodies
- Sunscreen
- Water Bottles to stay hydrated in the heat
- Chairs (depending on where you watch)
- Dry clothes/towels for after Firefighter’s spray park
- Ponchos or umbrellas if the weather is threatening.
Where to Watch the Ann Arbor Fourth of July Parade
In my opinion there is no one perfect place to watch the Ann Arbor Fourth of July Parade. There are so many factors that go into selecting where to watch: shade, crowds, escapability, and candy quantity. The balance of these factors will be different for each person.
- Earlier in the parade usually means groups haven’t run out of candy yet.
- Watch from later in the parade route if you want less candy.
- The best shade will be on the west side of the buildings (sit on the east side of the road).
- Earlier in the parade groups tend to be tightly spaced. As the parade progresses, they tend to spread out.
- Sit on the outside of the parade loop to be able to leave mid-parade.
- Traditionally State St & Main St have been the most crowded places to watch.
Candy/Goodies
Many parade groups will pass out candy or other goodies. If you want candy, you are better to watch from earlier in the route. If you want less candy, watch the parade closer to the end of the parade route. Most groups have run out of candy by this point.
I love this photo of my daughter handing out candy in 2009 at age 3 when the parade started at State and William. She stopped at each kid and personally handed them the candy. They quickly fell behind. They caught up once they ran out of a huge bucket of candy before making it to up all the way up State to Liberty.
In later years she learned to drop the candy in groups and keep up with our group.
Participant Tips
Signups are open now. For guaranteed placement, apply by Friday, June 20.
In the past kids could decorate a bike and join the parade. This has not happened since 2019, but I hope to see it return.
What to Wear
Participants are encouraged to dress either for their organization or in Red White and Blue. My daughter has alternated between wearing a shirt for her group and a patriotic shirt.
Most importantly, participants should dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Sunscreen is also a must!
What to Bring
Participants should bring a water bottle. Participants are permitted to hand out candy, goodies, and literature. I suggest bringing double or even triple the amount of candy you think you’ll need especially as a first timer. In 2009, the candy below only lasted for the first 1/4 of the parade.
If you are bringing candy, I have a few recommendations. We usually use a combination of lollipops, Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls, Air Heads, hard candy, etc. We avoid chocolates which can melt and tend to have more allergen issues than some of the others.
A wagon is extremely helpful in handling water bottles, candy, literature, and goodies for your group.
Handing Out Candy/Goodies Tips
If you are handing out candy or other goodies at the parade, the parade rules prohibit you from throwing the items. You can drop candy near the curb which is the method that I recommend.
At 3.5 my daughter handed candy out one by one to everyone along the route not wanting to miss anyone. She quickly ran out of candy, and ended up about 6 groups behind us (with dad).
Other Things to Bring
Don’t forget your Sunscreen. As a participant, you won’t be able to stay in the shade as spectators can.
Other Fourth of July Parades Near Me
In 2023, with the Ann Arbor Parade a few days early we attended the Ypsilanti 4th of July Parade on the 4th. It was nice getting to attend 2 parades. There are also a couple of other Fourth of July Parades.
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 💙🆓 | July 4 10:00am-11:00am | Ann Arbor Jaycees 4th of July Parade
at Main Street Area, Ann Arbor MI The Ann Arbor Jaycees Fourth of July Parade & Festival is returning downtown for 2025! The parade also returns to its mostly traditional route: North on State from William to Liberty West on Liberty from State to Main South on Main from Liberty to William East on William from Main...Read More |
More Independence Day Celebrations
Beyond parades, there are many other 4th of July celebrations – Fireworks shows, concerts, and more. Get more details below on these 4th of July events and more useful information:
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Thank you for.taking the time to share! Attending for the first time as a single dad with my 2-yr old twin daughters. Can’t wait!! ??