Chip Waters (Photo courtesy of Appleton Parade Committee)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The biggest Flag Day Parade in the country is ready to rock.
The 73rd Appleton Flag Day Parade is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 8.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Rockin’ in the U.S.A.” The Parade Grand Marshal, as always, is the United States Flag. Every year, the Flag Day Parade honors a branch of the military, and this year’s event will spotlight the United States Army, including the United States Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and affiliated veteran organizations.
Fox Cities residents have honored “Old Glory” on the second Saturday in June since 1950, making the Appleton Flag Day Parade the nation’s oldest. The celebration annually draws more than 50,000 spectators and participants from throughout the state and nation to Appleton.
The fun begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, with the Downtown Appleton Farm Market. At noon, Houdini Plaza will host a pre-parade concert by the 484th Army Band of Chicago/Milwaukee.
At 12:30, the 1st Brigade Band, a Civil War era band from Watertown, will perform outside The 10th Frame (618 W. Wisconsin Avenue). There is no charge for admission, and concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
The parade begins at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and N. Oneida Street. The route travels west down W. Wisconsin Avenue to N. State Street, south on N. State Street to W. College Avenue. At W. College Avenue the parade travels east and ends at Drew Street.
The escort to the U.S. Flag is Chip Waters, a Vietnam-era Army veteran who turned a hobby into a way of “paying it forward” to others who served. On top of regularly volunteering, Waters began “Chip’s Stix” as a way to provide walking sticks to veterans organizations.
Other notable entries in the 73rd Appleton Flag Day Parade include:
- Nearly 20 bands, including 484th Army Band, 1st Brigade Band, Americanos Alumni Association, The Positions, The 2/5th’s Party Band, The Del Ray’s, Big Top Brass, The Badger Band (featuring members of the University of Wisconsin Band).
- Local marching bands, including all three Appleton public high schools, Valley Troubadours, New Horizons, Lakeside Lutheran High School, the Lutheran Vanguard, and Appleton City Band.
- Veterans organizations, tributes to the Armed Forces, patriotic floats, marching units, antique and collector vehicles, horses, clowns, scooters, fire trucks, tractors, and much, much more!
- Back for more: In addition to our legacy units, the Dancing Grannies of Milwaukee and Elite Striders of Chicago will return to the Flag Day Parade.
The event is organized by the Appleton Parade Committee, a group of dedicated community volunteers.
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