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Arlington’s favorite family tradition is set to celebrate its 60th birthday when the Arlington Independence Day Parade wheels through downtown on July 4.
“Arlington’s longest-running tradition kicks off at 9 a.m. in downtown Arlington as we celebrate Independence Day in the American Dream City,” said Kevin Donovan, president of the Arlington Independence Day Parade board of directors. “We’ll have the Firecracker 5K at 7 a.m., our Grand Marshal – a true American hero, and all your hometown favorites that march and roll through the streets of downtown each July 4th. It’ll be fun for the whole family as we celebrate our nation and all that unites us.”
Voted the state’s Best Parade of its size by the Texas Festivals and Events Association in 2023 and 2024, the Arlington Independence Day Parade is the longest-running event in the Dream City, attracting upward of 40,000 people each year.
The Arlington Independence Day Parade is honored to have American hero Chris Cassidy as Grand Marshal of the 2025 parade. Cassidy is the president and CEO of the new Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington. He is one of only three people to have been a U.S. Navy Seal and an astronaut. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earned two Bronze Stars in Afghanistan and logged 377 days in space.
Honoring the 60th birthday of the Arlington parade, this year’s theme is Shining Bright Since 1965, Arlington Independence Day Parade, Diamond Jubilee. The event began as a bicycle parade at Randol Mill Park on July 4, 1965.
The 2025 parade is dedicated to the people of Arlington for supporting the parade for six decades.
The parade will take off at 9 a.m. Friday, July 4, and wind through the University of Texas at Arlington campus and downtown Arlington, featuring bands from all six Arlington ISD high schools, floats, antique cars, Scouts, cheerleaders, dance teams and walking units.
Special guests this year will be the 1st Cavalry Division Band from Fort Hood.
The third annual Firecracker 5K hits the streets at 7 a.m. Friday, July 4, starting at the Levitt Pavilion at 100 W. Abram St., then following the parade route for two laps before winding up back at the Levitt. Registration for the 5K run is now open at arlington4th.org.
The Arlington Independence Day Parade’s mascot, Sparky – the only legal firework in Arlington – will be on hand for all of the festivities and featured in the parade.
Every year, the parade is the most popular event on Arlington’s cable channel, where it will be featured again this year.
The Arlington Independence Day Parade is planned and produced by an all-volunteer board of directors with assistance from hundreds of volunteers, local sponsors, Arlington Police and Fire departments, Arlington Parks & Recreation, Arlington Street Department and the City of Arlington.
For more information, go to arlington4th.org.
Mansfield, Texas, is a booming city, nestled between Fort Worth and Dallas, but with a personality all its own. The city’s 76,247 citizens enjoy an award-winning school district, vibrant economy, historic downtown, prize-winning park system and community focus spread across 37 square miles. The Mansfield Record is dedicated to reporting city and school news, community happenings, police and fire news, business, food and restaurants, parks and recreation, library, historical archives and special events. The city’s only online newspaper launched in September 2020 and will offer introductory advertising rates for the first three months at three different rates.
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The Mansfield Record is the only local newspaper serving Mansfield, Texas. Established in 2020, the Mansfield Record is bringing the focus back where it should be.
