APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The City of Appleton is set to continue its longstanding tradition on June 14, the 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade!
The celebration, which attracts more than 50,000 spectators and participants from throughout the country to Appleton, has honored ‘Old Glory’ on the second Saturday of every June since 1950.
“There’s an unparalleled amount of pride and patriotism in the Fox Cities,” said Corey Otis, Chairperson for the City of Appleton Parades Committee. “The Flag Day Parade provides a showcase for our community’s ingenuity and artistry as well as a reason to come together and celebrate with friends and family.”
More than 600 Wisconsin Guard soldiers ready for deployment with sendoff in Oshkosh
The theme of the 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade is “Honor, Courage, Commitment”: these are the core values of the United States Marine Corps and Navy.
Every year, the Flag Day Parade honors a branch of the military, but this year, Appleton will spotlight both the United States Marine Corps and Navy, who each celebrates 250 years of service in 2025.
The Parade Grand Marshal, as always, is the United States Flag. The escort to the U.S. Flag is United States Marine Veteran Bob Lace of Neenah. Lace, 83, served during the Vietnam War era, and he is well known as the “one-man honor guard” at the Memorial Day and Flag Day Parades in Appleton.
This year’s Honorary Parade Marshal is Retired Rear Admiral Jerry Clusen, a native of Manitowoc. Clusen, a Navy Mustang, served in 14 ranks throughout his 42-year career in the United States Navy Reserve.
The 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 with the Downtown Appleton Farm Market. Then, at 11:30 a.m., Houdini Plaza will host a pre-parade concert by the Marine Forces Reserve Band prior to the 1st Brigade Band at noon.
The Flag Day Parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and North Oneida Street, with the route traveling through State Street, College Avenue, and Drew Street.
Notable entries in the 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade include:
- Nearly 20 musical units, including Navy Band Great Lakes, Marine Forces Reserve Band, 1st Brigade Band, Americanos Alumni Association, The 2/5th’s Party Band, Big Top Brass, and The Badger Band (featuring members of the University of Wisconsin Band).
- Local marching bands, including all three Appleton public high schools, Valley Troubadours, New Horizons, Lakeside Lutheran High School, the Lutheran Vanguard, and Appleton City Band.
- Veterans organizations, tributes to the Armed Forces, patriotic floats, marching units, antique and collector vehicles, horses, clowns, scooters, fire trucks, tractors, and much, much more!
- Back for more: The Dancing Grannies will return to the Flag Day Parade along with Golden Gals MKE.
- Pierce Manufacturing and WHBY will hand out free flags to spectators just before the parade begins.
The celebration continues after the parade. In Houdini Plaza, The Badger Band, featuring members of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, will play music from the “Fifth Quarter.” The free performance is expected to begin around 4:30 p.m.
WFRV Local 5 will livestream the parade on our Facebook page and website. The parade will be broadcast at 10:35 p.m. on both June 14 and 21.
