The Appleton Flag Day Parade marches down Wisconsin Avenue June 10, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The biggest Flag Day Parade in the country is making a change.
The annual Appleton Flag Day Parade is adjusting its route this year for safety reasons.
Officials say the Flag Day Parade will adopt the same route as the Appleton Christmas Parade, which starts at the corner of State Street and College Avenue and goes east, disbanding at Drew Street.
In the past, the parade route would start at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and N. Oneida Street, go west down W. Wisconsin Avenue to N. State Street, south on N. State Street to W. College Avenue. At W. College Avenue the parade went east and ended at Drew Street.
This route had some safety concerns so organizers and police decided to stick with what they know: The Appleton Christmas Parade route.
Participants in the parade have said the former Flag Day parade route was too long and can be especially grueling on a hot summer afternoon. The Appleton Christmas Parade route is shorter.
The former parade route also crossed paths with a railroad crossing on State Street. In the past, trains have gone through during the parade, which creates a safety hazard. The Appleton Christmas Parade route would avoid this.
And organizers say they wanted a more secure parade and by sticking to just College Avenue, that level of security can be accomplished.
The 75th Appleton Flag Day Parade is set for Saturday, June 13 at 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Stars, Stripes, and New Beginnings.”
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