Everyone loves the Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Parade. The State Street parade draws an estimated 20,000 spectators each July 4th!
All Westerville elementary students in kindergarten through Grade 5 are invited to submit a theme for the Rotary’s 2024 Independence Day Parade.
The winning student will receive $100 and a place of honor in the big parade! The student and a friend or family member can ride on the Rotary Float in the parade!
Also, classrooms with 100 percent participation in the theme contest will be entered into a drawing to win a classroom pizza party.
Students can fill out an entry form with their patriotic theme submission here. They can submit their forms to their school principal by Friday, April 26.
Just pick a patriotic theme for the parade (10 words or less, no cartoon characters, please.) Write it on the entry blank, along with your name, grade and school.
The 2023 winning theme was “Red, White and Blue and Liberty Too.” chosen by Camden Kuhlman, then a kindergarten student at Fouse Elementary School.
CAPTION FOR ABOVE PHOTO: 2022 Rotary Parade Theme Contest winner Oscar Oppermann (right) with his family on the Rotary Float in the 2022 Independence Day Parade. Oscar was a kindergarten student at Annehurst Elementary School when he submitted the winning theme for that year: “Star-Spangled and Stong!”
Be in the Westerville Independence Day Parade like Camden Kuhlman and Oscar Opperman! Download a parade entry form here!
Independence Day events lineup
Our 5K Walk/Run at the Westerville Sports Complex
- 7:30am: Pre-race ceremony featuring the Westerville Honor Guard
- 7:45am: Kids Fun Run for young children (50-yard dash for 6 and under; 100-yard dash for 7-10-year-olds)
- 8am: 5K Run/Walk Start
Our State Street Parade, 10:30am
- Parade begins at County Line Road and proceeds south to Electric Avenue,
Our Free Concert Series and Food Truck Festival, 5-9:45pm
- Also at the Sports Complex. Bring your lawn chair to catch the two great bands and enjoy the food truck fare.
Westerville Fireworks Display, 10pm.
- The fireworks again this year will be staged from Heritage Park near the Everal Barn (the park will be closed for parking due to safety concerns).
- Hang around at the Food Truck Festival for the best seats to catch the fireworks show!
The Rotary Club of Westerville
Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of business professionals and leaders working to improve our community and larger world. We are part of Rotary International. Find out more at WestervilleRotary.com. Contact the Club and learn how to join at www.westervillerotary.com/contact-form. Read more about the Rotary International organization at Rotary.org.
Interested in joining?
The Rotary Club of Westerville is accepting applications for new membership.
The best way to pursue membership is to contact an existing Club member, and attend one of our lunches or events as her or his guest. Members of the public also are welcome to attend our events on their own, to see what our service club is all about. If possible, please give notice of your intent to attend a luncheon or social by emailing WestervilleRotaryEvents@gmail.com.
We hope to see you soon!