Photo courtesy of Visit Alexandria
George Washington Birthday Parade
Annual parade in Old Town Alexandria celebrates George Washington.
It’s time to register as a marching unit in Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.! Here's a message from organizers about taking part in the big day:
The theme for the 2026 Parade is "George Washington: Virginia's Son ~ America's Founding Father” in honor of George Washington’s leading role in the founding of our country during its 250th Anniversary Year.
Parade units will march along the Parade’s historic route in Old Town Alexandria, which you can view here.
We are looking for units that represent the parade's themes—George Washington, the Declaration of Independence, and the founding of our country. Be creative in thinking of ways that you can highlight these themes while creating a memorable experience for participants and spectators alike!
Musical/performance components and floats are strongly encouraged. For the nation’s 250th Anniversary, we are offering the following incentives:
$1,000 each to the first five College, Military School, or High School Marching Bands of 25 or more participants that qualify and are approved by the Parade Organizers. The parade registration fee for qualifying marching bands also will be waived.
Special recognition to Sponsors of Marching Bands, Performance Groups, or Floats that provide $500 or more to their selected parade unit for the purpose of enabling the parade unit’s participation and/or enhancing its performance on Parade Day. These Parade Unit Sponsors will be recognized on the Parade website at www.washingtonbirthday.com; the George Washington Celebration newsletter distributed to over 1,500 parade participants, volunteers, and supporters; and the Parade Order of March that will be downloadable to the phones of parade participants and spectators.
If your parade unit is interested in taking advantage of either of these incentives, please email gwbirthdayevents@gmail.com to arrange for a conversation.
The parade registration link is here. The early bird registration rate is $75 per unit through Wednesday, Jan. 14, and is $125 per unit beginning Thursday, Jan. 15. The application fee is non‐refundable upon acceptance of the application, unless the parade is cancelled by the Parade Organizers. Registration closes at the end of the day on Friday, January 30.
Please note, registration is a two-step process. After receiving payment of the registration fee, a parade application will be sent for you to complete. Upon approval, applicants will receive an email confirming participation.
Parade organizers reserve the right to decline a group's participation or to restrict parade content. By registering, Unit Leaders and parade participants agree to abide by the parade's Rules and Procedures. Please read them here before completing your registration.
Any questions can be directed to gwbirthdayevents@gmail.com. We thank you for your interest in participating in the 2026 parade!
