The annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade, which traditionally is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, this year will return in grand fashion—including new special guests— starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, in Silver Spring.
The parade will step off from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District and proceed south on Georgia Avenue. It will conclude at Silver Spring Avenue.
This year, the parade will feature new floats of toy soldiers and peppermint candy canes, a polar express train, new performance groups and marching bands, turkey races, new gingerbread costumes, and teddy bear and Rudolph mascots.
“The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade kicks-off the holiday season for many families,” said County Executive Marc Elrich, who will be in the parade's line of march. “It showcases the diverse cultures and performing talents of our residents and organizations, and brings together the community for a day of thankfulness and celebration. After the parade, we encourage everyone to visit our ice skating rink, shop locally in one of Silver Spring’s businesses or enjoy lunch at one of our many restaurants.”
At the intersection of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street (and throughout the parade route), there will be live performances by cultural dancing groups, Akhmedova Ballet, Maryland Youth Ballet and college and high school marching bands.
The parade will begin with a harvest and Thanksgiving theme and end with holiday music, a Hanukkah bear, reindeer, elves and Santa Claus. It will have first appearance of Mrs. Claus in the parade.
The parade will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit https://www.silverspringdowntown.com/montgomery-county-thanksgiving-parade.
The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is seeking individual volunteers to be elves and pilgrims on floats, reindeer and penguins in the parade, or to lead balloons. The parade needs volunteers, age 13 and older, to dress up in costume and ride on the floats, to act as unit leaders, and to be inflatable and balloon handlers. The hours for volunteers are 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on parade day. Volunteers need to be present the entire time. Volunteers meet at the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street. To sign-up as a parade volunteer, visit https://www.silverspringdowntown.com/montgomery-county-thanksgiving-parade/Volunteering.
The parade and festivities will require some road closures in the Silver Spring area. Northbound and Southbound lanes of Georgia Avenue, from East-West Highway to Colesville Road, will close at 6 a.m. and re-open at the conclusion of the parade (approximately 1 p.m.). Traffic should detour to East-West Highway.
Free parking will be available in public garages including the Sligo Avenue Garage, the Cameron Street Garage and the Bonifant Street Garage next to the Silver Spring Metrorail Station. The Ellsworth Town Center garage is CLOSED on parade day, starting at 2 a.m., to accommodate the parade organization.
Parade goers are encouraged to take the Metro Red Line to the Silver Spring station, just west of Georgia Avenue.
The following roads will be closed from 6 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 (parking restrictions begin at 2 a.m.):
- North and Southbound Georgia Avenue between East-West Highway and Colesville Road.
- Cedar Avenue between Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue.
- Pershing Drive from Cedar Avenue to Veterans Place.
- Veterans Place from Pershing to Ellsworth Drive.
- Ellsworth Drive from Georgia Avenue to Cedar avenues.
- Roeder Road from Fenton Street to Cedar Avenue.
- Fenton Street from Cameron Street to Wayne Avenue.
- Wayne Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
- Bonifant Street from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
- Thayer Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
- Silver Spring Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.
