The Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District will host the county’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon in downtown Silver Spring.
The parade starts at the intersection of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and proceeds south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue. The parade is free and no tickets are required.
“Larger than life inflatable turkeys and penguins, glittering floats, marching bands, dancing groups, and Santa and his elves! The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is the only Thanksgiving Parade in the metro DC area,” the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District page reads.
Family-friendly restaurants are located along the parade route.
Parking is also free and will be available in the Sligo Avenue, Cameron Street and Bonifant Street garages. The Ellsworth Town Center and Wayne Avenue garages will be closed on the day of the parade.
Portable restrooms are available at Veterans Place behind the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The Thanksgiving Parade continues rain or shine.
Road closures
Georgia Avenue, from East-West Highway to Colesville Road, will close at 6 a.m. and re-open at the conclusion of the parade. Traffic should detour to East-West Highway.
Starting at 6 a.m. Nov. 18, road closures include:
- North and Southbound Georgia Ave. 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 to Cedar Avenues.
- Roeder Road from Fenton Street to Cedar Avenue.
- Fenton St. from Cameron St. to Wayne Avenue.
- Wayne Avenue from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
- Bonifant St. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
- Thayer Ave. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
- Silver Spring Ave. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Volunteers Needed
The parade needs volunteers, aged 13 and older, to dress up in costume, to serve as unit leaders, and to be inflatable and balloon handlers. Volunteers are needed from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the day of the parade and meet at the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street. Sign up to help here.
The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is always looking for volunteers to be elves and pilgrims on floats, reindeer and penguins in the parade. The parade needs volunteers, aged 13 and older, to dress up in costume, to serve as unit leaders, and to be inflatable and balloon handlers. The hours for volunteers are from 7:30am to 1:30pm (volunteers need to be present the entire six hours) on Saturday, November 18. Volunteers meet at the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street.
To Sign Up Ahead of Time to Volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4FA4A829A46-45758599-montgomery
Need SSL hours @MCPS ? We are looking for volunteers for the Thanksgiving Parade on Saturday, Nov. 18th. Get in the holiday spirit while you and your friends drink cocoa, wear costumes, and become a character in the parade. https://t.co/VGjbEaiECs pic.twitter.com/RxIkE7WOay
— Silver Spring Urban District (@SilverSpringMD) November 6, 2023
