Join us as we walk in the Willmar Fest Parade

THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH.

We’d love to know who will be joining in the fun! Please sign-up now so we can get a rough number of participants for our parade entry. Everyone is welcome to join the day of (even if you don't sign-up in advance).

For this year’s parade, we’d love to see all of our parade walkers wear one of our blue mission t-shirts! If you do not have one of the shirts below please see Kate Dimler in HR or send her an email. We will have a limited selection available on the bus for those who do not pre-register to walk and arrive the day of. We will again be driving the Bethesda Bus in the parade and handing out blue candy along with a select number of limited-edition Bethesda beach balls!

Please contact Kate Dimler with any questions:

Kate.Dimler@BethesdaWillmar.com

Meet us by the Bethesda Bus in our employee parking lot by 9:30 am.

Our lineup number 35 if you plan to meet us in lineup.

Parade Rules for the Willmar Fests Grande Day Parade

1. All items MUST be handed out from the sidelines.

2. No "throw-outs" OF ANY KIND are allowed from any vehicle or float.

3. Water Guns and squirt guns will not be allowed in any unit.

4. All units must be in position (1) one hour before the start of the parade. The parade starts promptly at 10:30 am.

5. All vehicles not needed in the parade are to be kept off of the line-up route.

6. Each unit shall be responsible for its own equipment, props, costumes, signs, and mode of transportation in the parade unless prior arrangements have been made with Willmar Fests.

7. All animal units MUST provide their own clean-up.

8. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on any unit. If any driver of a unit permits this, they will be ticketed under the Open Container Law. No warning will be given.

Parade Map

Willmar Fests Schedule

Subject to change

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

10:00 am - Coffee with the Candidates at The Goodness Coffee House

2:00 pm - Live Entertainment & Float Social at the Willmar Community Center

Kiwanis Kids Day at Rice Park

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Kids Activities, Inflatables, read with the Royalty and Willmar Fests Candidates, crafts with Willmar Main Street, free food while supplies last with Cash Wise and the Kandiyohi County Dairy Association.

5:00 pm - LIVE Music with the Jolly Pops

6:00 pm - Pie & Ice Cream Social at Rice Park, sponsored by Mills Automotive Group

6:00 pm - Willmar Fests Junior Coronation - New Night and Location

6:30 pm - Kiddie Parade around Rice Park - New Night and Location

7:00 pm - Prairie Winds Summer Band Concert at Rice Park

- West Central Connection Chorus at 7:00 pm

- Prairie Winds Summer Band at 7:30 pm

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

10:00 am - Royal Storytime at Miller Park

Willmar Fests Block Party - Kickoff at 5th & Becker Ave with Q102

5:00 pm - Food Trucks, Various Vendors, Kids Activities and More

- Meet the Willmar Fests Queen Candidates

- Home Depot Kids Workshop

- Bean Bag Toss and Games

- NinjaAnywhere from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

- Dunk Tank benefiting Hope for Our City starting at 5:00 pm

- Kids Fun Run with Miles 4 Mentors at 5:30 pm

- The Dam Jammers on the Block Party Stage at 6:00 pm

- Willmar Fests: Fitness Relay from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

- Fireman's Challenge starting at 6:30 pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

7:30 am - Willmar Fests Chamber Connection at Heritage Bank

1:00 pm - Appreciation Day Dance at the Willmar Community Center

5:00 pm - Royalty Ride with BikeWillmar and Willmar Bikes

7:05 pm - Willmar Stingers Baseball Baker Field at Bill Taunton Stadium

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

7:00 am - 1:00 pm - Willmar Fire Department Pancake Feed-Willmar Fire Station

8:00 am - Foot Lake 4 Walk/Run - On The Run MN

10:30 am - Grande Day Parade – Downtown

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Willmar Fests Ambassador Coronation at Willmar Education and Arts Center

Willmar Fests Beach Party at Robbins Island Regional Park 

7:30 pm - The Little Crow Ski Show

8:30 pm - Beach Party Concert with Radio Nation

10:00 pm - Q102 Lakeland Broadcasting’s “Works Over Water” Fireworks Show

More music after the Fireworks with Radio Nation

SUNDAY, JUNE 25

RAIN Backup Plan – 7:30 pm “The Little Crow Ski Show”-Robbins Island

RAIN Backup Plan – 10:00 pm “Works Over Water” Fireworks Show-Foot Lake

Schedule subject to change – check willmarfests.com for the latest

Line up begins at 9 am

Parade begins at 10:30 am

The parade is approximately 1 mile

Line up begins at 9 am

Parade begins at 10 am

The parade is approximately 1.5 miles

Line up begins at 10 am

Parade begins at 11 am

The parade is approximately 1 mile

Line up begins at 2 pm

Parade begins at 3 pm

The parade is approximately 1.5 miles

Please fill out the form at the RSVP link to sign up to join us at the parades.  

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