Preparations are under way for the Rotary Club’s annual staging of Westerville’s Independence Day Celebration for 2026. The Club has led the staging of the community’s July 4th events since 1962!

All events for 2026 are scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 4 — including the 5K Walk/Run, State Street Parade, the Concert Series and Food Truck Festival, and of course the Fireworks Show with lots of special events to celebrate 250 years of freedom!

Another morning parade!

The Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Parade will step off on State Street at 10:30 a.m., after 2022’s highly successful move of the parade from the afternoon to the morning of the Fourth.

The parade route will remain as in recent years, beginning at Old County Line Road and proceeding south to Electric Avenue.

Staging will begin in the parking lot of St. Paul Catholic Church, 313 N. State St., beginning at 9 a.m.

64th year for Rotary leadership

2026 marks 64 years since our Rotary Club of Westerville began helping to stage Westerville’s Independence Day!

In 1962, we joined with the Westerville Jaycees in sponsoring the Citywide Westerville Independence Day Celebration, and in 1968, we took over sole responsibility – with of course huge annual assistance from the City of Westerville Fire and Police Divisions, Electric Division, Public Service Department, and Parks & Recreation, Departments!

Well, some of those didn’t exist in 1962 or 1968 – but all of those city departments sure play a major role in helping us stage the community’s Fourth of July today!

We are very excited to again stage the Westerville Independence Day Parade for 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4.

Last year, 1st grader picked the 2025 Parade Theme: ‘Stars, Stripes, & Freedom Unite’

What will the theme be this year?  Watch this site for the 2026 theme and winner of the contest. See information below on our winner from last year:

The 2025 celebration theme will be “Stars, Stripes & Freedom Unite,” The theme suggestion was submitted by Mark Twain Elementary first-grader Ahmed Adu-Bediako in the Rotary’s annual contest to pick the parade theme, open to school district youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grade

For being chosen as the theme contest winner, Ahmed will receive $100 and is invited to ride in a place of honor on the Rotary’s float with a friend or family member during the big State Street parade on July 4.

Representatives from the Rotary Club celebrated Ahmed on Friday, April 25, with a pizza party for his class at Mark Twain. Ahmed with his family also will be honored guests at the club’s weekly luncheon May 22 at the Medallion Club.

Katie Ensell’s third-grade class at Hawthorne Elementary also enjoyed a pizza party with Rotary representatives April 25. Ensell’s class won the drawing among classes districtwide, in which every student submitted an entry in the 2025 Parade Theme Contest.

Build a float and join us in the big 2026 parade!

Local civic organizations, sports and school groups, and neighborhoods are encouraged to get their own entries together for the 2026 Parade.

Whether you plan to walk as a group or construct an elaborate float, the Rotary Club of Westerville welcomes your involvement. Click on the “Parade Registration Form and FAQs” graphic below to get going!

PLATINUM sponsors

• Buckeye Media Services

• Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians

• Payne & Brown Insurance/Auto-Owners Insurance

• Roush Hardware

• The Dave Read Family

• Worthington Industries

GOLD sponsors

• Caxton Printing

• Gerber Collision & Glass

• Hill Funeral Home

• Lakeshore Cryotonics

• RKE Trucking Company/DELCO Diesel

• Worthington Moose Lodge 1427

SILVER sponsors

• Best Impression Painting

• Cheryl's Cookies

• Danbury Senior Living

• Giant Eagle

• Kroger

• Nationwide Children's Hospital

• Nichols & Company CPAs

• Orthopedic One

• Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM)