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Lexington Blueberry Festival · 2026

Sunday Funday Parade

A community parade through Lexington kicking off Sunday afternoon of the festival. Marching bands, walking groups, motorized units, and novelty entries make their way down Plymouth Street. Free to enter, free to watch, built by neighbors.

Rain or shine Free to enter Deadline Aug 1
Watch the Parade Enter the Parade
Lady Lex Soccer at the 2025 Sunday Funday Parade
Lady Lex Soccer at the 2025 Parade
Aug 23
Parade Day
2:00 PM
Step-off
4
Entry Categories
Free
To Enter
Watching the Parade

Pull up a chair on Plymouth Street.

Over an hour of floats rolling by, music coming from every direction, and half the town waving from lawn chairs. Show up early, find a good spot, and enjoy. It's free.

Where & when
  • Sunday, Aug 23, 2026
  • Step-off at 2:00 PM
  • Route begins on Plymouth Street, Lexington OH
  • Expect about two hours of entries
What to bring
  • A folding chair or blanket
  • Sunscreen and water
  • A bag for the kids (candy gets tossed from floats)
  • Phone or camera for parade photos
  • A friendly wave
Look for
  • Decorated floats from local groups
  • Marching bands and music units
  • The reigning Miss Blueberry and her court
  • Civic organizations and youth groups
  • Antique cars and motorized units
  • Surprise novelty entries
Route Map

Detailed parade route coming soon

We'll publish the full street-by-street route here before parade day. The parade begins on Plymouth Street in Lexington OH and finishes on the far side of the festival grounds.

Parade Day

How the day unfolds.

A rough schedule for parade day. Entrants get more specific staging times in their pre-parade email.

  1. Morning
    Staging begins

    Entrants begin arriving at the Plymouth Street staging area. The parade committee places each unit in lineup order.

  2. ~1:00 PM
    Final staging

    All entries should be in place. Oversized or marching entries may hold off-formation until everyone else has been positioned.

  3. 2:00 PM
    Step-off

    The parade begins. Lead units head down the route. From here it's about two hours from front to back.

  4. Throughout
    Grand Reviewing Area

    As each entry passes the Grand Reviewing Area, announcers introduce it to the crowd using the description from your entry form. See how it works →

  5. ~3:30 PM
    Parade concludes

    Final entries reach the end of the route. Festival activities continue on the grounds through Sunday evening.

Entering the Parade

Want to be in the parade?

Anyone is welcome: civic groups, families, businesses, churches, schools, scouts, neighborhood crews. Pick a category, tell us a little about your entry, and we'll handle the rest.

Marching Unit
Bands, color guards, drumlines, drill teams, organized marching groups.
Walking Unit
Civic groups, churches, scouts, schools, families, neighborhood crews on foot.
Motorized Unit
Floats, antique cars, decorated trucks, tractors, golf carts, fire engines.
Novelty Unit
Decorated bikes, unicycles, costumed walkers, animals, anything festive and unique.

Don't see your category? Choose Other in the form and tell us what you have in mind, and we'll work with you.

What you'll need to submit

  • Entry name and primary contact info
  • Category and emergency contact
  • Approximate footprint (width & length) and member count
  • A short description for the announcers
  • Photo & video release (consent or opt out)
  • Optional music or detailed announcer notes (sent by email after submission)

After you submit

  • You'll receive a PDF confirmation receipt by email.
  • If you add an optional parade donation, you'll be sent through PayPal Checkout to complete it.
  • The parade committee will be in touch with staging instructions and your lineup position before parade day.
  • You can email the committee any time at parade@lexblueberryfest.com.
Center of the Parade

Your moment at the Grand Reviewing Area.

As each entry passes the Grand Reviewing Area, our announcers introduce your unit to the crowd. The words they read come from the description you write on your application, so a sentence or two of real character about your group makes a real difference.

Tell us who you are, what year you started, who's marching, what you're celebrating. The crowd is listening.

An example announcer note
" Coming up Plymouth Street is the Lexington Lions Club, marching together for the 14th year running. Director Bob Smith leads sixteen members today. Many of you have eaten their famous pancakes on a Saturday morning. Give them a wave!
Rules & Basics

The six things to know.

  • 01
    Rain or shine

    The parade happens unless we have severe weather. Any major schedule changes will be posted on the festival Facebook page.

  • 02
    Apply by August 1

    Earlier is better for staging and announcer planning. Late entries will be considered if there's room, but we can't guarantee it.

  • 03
    Oversized entries hold off-formation

    Marching units and large floats may be asked to stage outside the main lineup until everyone else has been positioned, so the parade can roll on time.

  • 04
    Photo & video

    Entries appear in festival photography and video unless you opt out on the application form. Used for festival promotion and recap pieces.

  • 05
    Free to enter

    No fee for any category. The parade is community-funded. Optional donations on the form help cover staging, announcer support, and safety.

  • 06
    Stay in position

    Once the parade begins, keep your assigned spot in the lineup. Don't pass the unit in front of you or fall too far behind. It keeps the parade moving smoothly for everyone watching along the route.

Ready to march?

Submit your Sunday Funday Parade entry.

Applications due by August 1, 2026.

Quick Answers

Frequently asked questions.

Is there a fee to enter?
No. All categories are free. There's an optional donation on the application form if you'd like to support the cost of staging and announcers, but it's not required.
When do entrants need to arrive for staging?
Most units arrive between mid-morning and early afternoon, with final positioning by about 1:00 PM. The parade committee will email you a specific staging time and lineup position about a week before parade day.
Can we throw candy from our entry?
Yes, tossing candy is part of the tradition. Throw gently and aim toward the curb, not toward the road. Kids will chase a stray Tootsie Roll, and we want to keep everyone safe.
Can my group bring animals?
Yes, well-behaved animals on leashes are welcome: horses, dogs, livestock for a 4-H group, etc. Tell us in your application so we can place you in the lineup where it makes sense.
What happens if it rains?
The parade is rain or shine. We only cancel for severe weather (lightning, severe storms). Any changes are posted on the festival Facebook page that morning.
Can we drop off and leave after the parade?
Yes. There's no obligation to stick around after your unit reaches the end of the route, though the festival grounds stay active through Sunday evening if you'd like to enjoy the rest of the day.
Do we need our own insurance?
Organized groups and businesses with their own insurance should rely on their existing coverage. Individual walking or novelty entries are covered under the festival's general event insurance.
Can I enter more than one unit?
Yes, fill out the application once for each unit. That way each one gets its own announcer note and lineup position.

Sunday Funday is Lexington's favorite festival tradition. A community parade that's free to enter, free to watch, and built by neighbors. We hope to see you on Plymouth Street.