Fairmont (WV) Veterans Day Parade 2024

Recognize and honor our nation's veterans in Fairmont, West Virginia, by participating in our annual city Veterans Day parade. Entry is free - we're just happy you're participating. Entries can be walkers, cars/vans/trucks, motorcycles, floats, first responder vehicles, ATVs, tow trucks, etc. If you can walk or drive it, decorate it and come join us in thanking our veterans for their service!

Floats and large entries start line up at 11:00 a.m., and the main parade lines up starting at 11:30 a.m. We line up from the bottom of Water Street/Everest Drive (turn right off of Merchant Street between Auto Zone and the Third Street Bridge). Check out our Facebook (@FairmontVeteransDayParade) page for the parade route, traffic, and other parade information. We are a “rain or shine” event with no alternate date, so we would only cancel this event due to serious safety issues.

The Fairmont Veterans Day Parade, sponsored by the Marion County Veterans Council, is a veteran- and family-oriented public activity designed to honor and thank our veterans for their service. The Marion County Veterans Council also sponsors the Fairmont (WV) Christmas Parade and Blessing of the First Responders (hint: register for that parade on Eventbrite as well).

ENTRIES:

In General

If you are including music, animals, or other aspects in your parade entry that might ipact where we place you in the lineup, please make sure to let us know in your registration form.

Veterans' Entries

If you are a veterans organization, a veteran-owned business, a veteran parade registrant, or are visibly (with signage) honoring a specific veteran with your registration, please let us know, as we have a veterans-preference section to the parade lineup.

Group Entries

If you are registering as a group, please make sure your group only gets registered once. Also, please be sure to let your group participants know the title of your entry and, when available, your group's lineup time and location to assist them in checking into the parade. (Example: 304 Jeepers should register each vehicle separately with an entry name such as "304 Jeepers - Vehicle Nickname or Owner's Name [something specific so we know your group affiliation but can identify your specific entry from others in your group") (See also "Should I Register Multiple Vehicle Entries Separately?" under the FAQS section. When in doubt, text or call Marci at (304) 612-5151 to ask.)

Transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event

Please monitor our Facebook page for the lineup, traffic, and other parade information. Parking is not available at the top, bottom, or in the parade lineup for vehicles not actually in the parade.

Option 1: We heavily encourage riding in/on the parade vehicle if you can safely do so. If your parade participants can't do this, we suggest ride sharing (a/k/a carpooling) to minimize traffic congestion in the parade lineup and using one of the other options below.

Option 2: Participants may have a vehicle come through the bottom of the parade lineup and drive through the lineup to quickly drop the participant(s) off at their entry’s assigned spot, but those drop-off vehicles may not linger in the lineup. These vehicles must continue uphill and exit the parade line-up by turning right or left at the Morgantown Avenue/East Park Avenue/Merchant Street intersection. There will be absolutely no downhill traffic.

Option 3: A vehicle may quickly drop off the participant(s) at the Morgantown Avenue/East Park Avenue/Merchant Street intersection and proceed along Morgantown Avenue/East Park Avenue/Merchant Street without entering the parade lineup. The participant(s) will then walk downhill in the parade lineup to their entry spot.

Option 4: Otherwise, you will need to park elsewhere and walk into the parade lineup. There are limited free parking spots behind the business buildings on the river side of Merchant Street.

Band buses typically utilize a significant part of the parking lot near the boat docks at Palatine Park and the first block or so of Guffey Street, so please do not depend on being able to park there.

Parents who are dropping off children should like and monitor our social networking feeds for information about drop-off and pickup locations close to the parade date. We strongly encourage parents of child participants to make advance arrangements on where to meet their child(ren) following the parade. We love your children and want to make sure they stay safe!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

East Park Avenue & Merchant Street, Palatine Park, Fairmont, United States