Vendors can officially apply for the Wheaton Arts Parade today. The annual fall parade and festival in downtown Wheaton features handmade parade floats and performers, as well as a market of local artisans. This year the parade will take place on Sunday Sept. 28.
Previous parades have featured floats crafted by students at Flora M. Singer Elementary School, Albert Einstein High School, and Wheaton High School. Past performers have included the Wheaton Studio of Dance, Drag Story Hour DMV, and the Imagination Stage Dance Theater Performance Group.
Organizers welcome anyone to walk in the parade. According to the application, “On this day EVERYONE CAN BE AN ARTIST! You can walk alone or as a group — as a family and neighbors, as a community organization, as a school or business. The most important thing is to have fun. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult. It’s FREE to walk in the Parade and art vendors who walk in the parade get a discount on the fee for their booth.”
Vendors must pay a fee for festival booths. Fee rates are as follows:
- Artist walking in the parade – $200
- Artist not walking in the parade – $250
- Artist sharing a festival booth and walking in the parade – $125
- Artist sharing a festival booth and not walking in the parade – $150
- Arts organization walking in the parade – $300
- Arts organization not walking in the parade – $350
The parade spans the area from Grandview Ave to Georgia Ave around Marion Fryer Town Plaza. Alongside vendors, booths exhibit community organizations and county agencies. The festival sponsors a free Kids’ Zone with children’s entertainment
Applications remain open until July 31. You can find more information about the parade and vending here.
