Parade Details
Each year the parade kicks off at 9:30 AM on Saturday morning. This annual tradition embodies small-town life, and does so in grand fashion by bringing the community together for a fun-filled morning.
Come out and enjoy a little slice of Americana and be part of the excitement! See your old friends, make some new ones, and take in all that Matthews has to offer!
Parade Route
The parade begins on Matthews-Mint Hill Road, at McLeod Street. It moves forward to Trade Street, turns left (at Kristopher’s restaurant), continues through downtown, and concludes at the Matthews United Metho, turns right onto John St/Monroe Rd, continues to a left on Covenant Church Rd for disembarking.
Find a shady spot and enjoy the sights!
Or place an entry in the parade here: Parade Application 2025
Parade FAQs
How long does the parade last?
The parade lasts about 1.5 hours. It starts at 9:30am on Saturday, and finishes around 11:00am – just in time for lunch!
What is the parade route?
The parade begins on Matthews-Mint Hill Road, at McLeod Street. It moves forward to a left on Trade Street, and then a right on John St/Monroe Road. The parade continues straight, to a left and its END, on Covenant Church Lane.
What roads are closed for the parade?
Some roads are closed before and during the parade. Check out this link for more information.
Who is in the parade?
The Parade features over 100 participants. The participants include several local high school bands, floats, classic cars, street performers/entertainers, and many others.
My organization wants to participate in the parade. Where can I get more information?
Thanks for your interest, and please visit our Parade Participant Information page. The Parade is open to neighborhood associations, schools, alumni groups, cheerleading and drill teams, international organizations, police, fire, elected officials, commercial businesses, and others that want to participate.
I'm in the parade with an organization - where can I find more information about times, staging area, etc.?
For parade participants, please go to our Parade Participants Page to get the answers to your questions.