The Jacksonville Rotary Club is now accepting entries for its annual 4th of July Parade, which will take place on Thursday, July 4. The theme of this year’s parade is “Independence Day, the Rotary Way: One Big Family.” According to Jacksonville Rotary Club parade chairwoman Cathy Jo Littleton-Wahl, parade entry forms must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 28, 2019.

Wahl said, “The Rotary Club of Jacksonville invites everyone to join in this fun event, which celebrates family and our country. When you think of ‘family’ is it just your relatives? Or your neighborhood, your place of worship, your town? Please bring your version of ‘family’ to take part in our parade. You can walk as a group, ride in a vehicle or on a float, or ride bicycles or horses! Get your family together and please join us!”

The parade will organize at the southwest corner of Duncan Park at the intersection of West State Street and Webster Avenue. Those in charge of parade floats or entries must check in at the registration booth on the morning of the parade (8:30 to 9:45) to receive an entry number and any last minute information. Littleton-Wahl said floats and long vehicles should plan to arrive by 9:00 a.m. to facilitate parade spacing. Only one person with the entry is required to check in the registration booth.

Walkers who do not arrive with their entry must be dropped off outside of the setup area and walk to their entry’s location. There will be an information table at the southwest corner of Duncan Park (West State Street and Webster Avenue) to provide walkers and riders with information on the location of their parade entry.

All vehicles must enter the parade staging area from the west at the intersection of West State Street and Webster Avenue. All vehicles entered must be insured and all drivers must be at least 25 years old and have a valid driver’s license.

Entries will be judged based on their best representation of the parade theme. Categories are: walkers, vehicles, floats, bands, bicycles and “other.” Judging will begin promptly at 9:30. Awards will be announced as entries pass the parade stage in downtown Jacksonville.

The parade will step off promptly from Duncan Park at 10:00 a.m. and follow its traditional route. The parade route will proceed East from the corner of West State Street and Sandusky, along State Street to downtown Jacksonville, proceeding counter-clockwise around the downtown square and concluding at the corner of North Main and Douglas Streets.

For an entry form contact: 217.370.2145 or july4parade@jacksonvillerotary.org, or visit the Jacksonville Rotary Club Website at www.jacksonvillerotary.org. Entry forms are also available at: Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Jacksonville Municipal building.

Completed forms may be emailed to july4parade@jacksonvillerotary.org or faxed to Noel Beard at 217.408.0904. If an email address is provided on the entry form, a tentative setup location (parade number) will be emailed prior to the parade.

Any entry received after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 28, 2019 cannot be guaranteed a place in the parade, but may be offered an opportunity to form up at the end of the parade.