Arlington Independence Day Parade & Firecracker 5K

On Friday, July 4, the day after the Light Up Arlington fireworks show, Arlington’s favorite family tradition is set to celebrate its 60th birthday when the Arlington Independence Day Parade wheels through downtown.

Schedule:
7am: Firecracker 5K, starting at Levitt Pavilion, 100 E. Abram St., Arlington
9am: Arlington Independence Day Parade through Downtown

Parade:
The parade will take off at 9am and wind through the University of Texas at Arlington campus and downtown Arlington, featuring bands from all six Arlington ISD high schools, floats, antique cars, Scouts, cheerleaders, dance teams and walking units.

Voted the state’s Best Parade of its size by the Texas Festivals and Events Association in 2023 and 2024, the Arlington Independence Day Parade is the longest-running event in the Dream City, attracting upward of 40,000 people each year.

Honoring the 60th birthday of the Arlington parade, this year’s theme is Shining Bright Since 1965, Arlington Independence Day Parade, Diamond Jubilee. The event began as a bicycle parade at Randol Mill Park on July 4, 1965. The 2025 parade is dedicated to the people of Arlington for supporting the parade for six decades.

Every year, the parade is the most popular event on Arlington’s cable channel, where it will be featured again this year. The Arlington Independence Day Parade is planned and produced by an all-volunteer board of directors with assistance from hundreds of volunteers, local sponsors, Arlington Police and Fire departments, Arlington Parks & Recreation, Arlington Street Department and the City of Arlington.

Grand Marshal:
The Arlington Independence Day Parade is honored to have American hero Chris Cassidy as Grand Marshal of the 2025 parade. Cassidy is the President and CEO of the new Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington. (He'll also be making remarks at the museum's FreedomFest that same day.)

Cassidy is one of only three people to have been a U.S. Navy Seal and an astronaut. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earned two Bronze Stars in Afghanistan and logged 377 days in space. Special guests this year will be the 1st Cavalry Division Band from Fort Hood.

Firecracker 5K:
The third annual Firecracker 5K hits the streets at 7 a.m. Thursday, July 4, starting at the Levitt Pavilion at 100 W. Abram St., then following the parade route for two laps before winding up back at the Levitt. Registration for the 5K run is now open at arlington4th.org.

The Arlington Independence Day Parade’s mascot, Sparky – the only legal firework in Arlington – will be on hand for all of the festivities and featured in the parade.

Looking for a July Fourth party closer to home? Find more Independence Day festivals with fireworks here and more family fun events every day of the week at dfwchild.com/calendar.