It’s time to register as a marching unit in the City of Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade on Monday, February 19, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.!
The parade theme this year is “George Washington: Alexandria's Original Living Legend”, and the Parade Grand Marshals are the Living Legends of Alexandria, an organization which “identifies, honors and chronicles the lives of individuals who have contributed to the community in a way that has significantly impacted the quality of life in Alexandria and serves as an inspiration to others.” 2024 also marks Alexandria's 275th Anniversary!
We also will be returning to our historic parade route east of Washington Street, which you can view here.
This year, we encourage you to “jazz it up”! Floats and musical/performance components are strongly encouraged. We are looking for units that represent the parade's themes—George Washington, patriotism, community service as exemplified by the Living Legends, and Alexandria's 275th Anniversary. Be creative in displaying birthday wishes to George Washington; honoring his role in the founding of this country or his connection to Alexandria; conveying anniversary wishes to Alexandria; or showing your own organization's contributions to the community. Think of ways that your unit can bring smiles to the thousands of spectators lining the streets!
The parade registration link is on the Shop Alexandria website here—just scroll down to the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC) logo. The registration rate is $75 per unit through Monday, January 15, and increases to $125 per unit beginning Tuesday, January 16. Registration closes at the end of the day on Monday, January 29, so don't delay!
Please note, registration is a two-step process. After receiving payment, a parade application will be sent for you to complete. Registration does not guarantee participation. Parade organizers reserve the right to decline a group's participation or restrict parade content at any time. All registrants agree to participate in accordance with the 2024 Parade Rules and Guidelines.
Finally—the Parade only can happen with the support of organizations like yours! The City provides an annual contribution, but the vast majority of funds to cover parade expenses must come through sponsorships and donations. Here’s how you can help!
Become a Parade Sponsor: Showcase your organization’s support for the community before, during, and after this special day and weekend! See Sponsorship Opportunities here.
Make an individual donation: A donation of any size can go a long way! Make your donation here, and let us know if you would like your donation to be posted in honor of or in memory of another.
Become an Old Town Business Donor: Do you have a business on or near the parade route? You can highlight it throughout this three-day weekend that brings thousands of residents and visitors to Old Town! Learn more about Old Town Business donor opportunities here.
Any questions can be directed to gwbirthdayevents@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you on Parade Day!
George Washington Birthday Celebration
Join the celebration of the birth of the father of our country, every year throughout February.
