Join Us on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 10:00am
Volunteering
The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is always looking for volunteers to be elves and pilgrims on floats, reindeer and penguins in the parade. The parade needs volunteers, aged 13 and older, to dress up in costume, to serve as unit leaders, and to be inflatable and balloon handlers. The hours for volunteers are from 7:30am to 1:30pm (volunteers need to be present the entire six hours) on Saturday, November 21. Volunteers meet at the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street.
To Sign Up Ahead of Time to Volunteer, follow the link below:
Road & Parking Garage Closures
ATTENTION! The Northbound and Southbound lanes of Georgia Avenue, from East-West Highway to Colesville Road will close at 6 a.m. and re-open at the conclusion of the parade, approximately 1 p.m. Traffic should detour to East West Highway.
The following roads will be closed on Saturday, November 21, from 6 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m.:
North and Southbound Georgia Ave. between East-West Highway and Colesville Road.
Cedar Avenue between Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue.
Pershing Drive from Cedar Avenue to Veterans Place.
Veterans Place from Pershing to Ellsworth Drive.
Ellsworth Drive from Georgia to Cedar Avenues.
Roeder Road from Fenton Street to Cedar Avenue.
Fenton St. from Cameron St. to Wayne Avenue.
Wayne Avenue from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Bonifant St. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Thayer Ave. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Silver Spring Ave. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
The Town Center public parking garage at Ellsworth Drive will close at 2 a.m. Saturday morning to accommodate the parade. The Wayne Avenue garage will also close beginning at 8am. Garages will re-open by 2pm.
Free parking will be available in the public garages including the Sligo Avenue Garage, the Cameron Street Garage, and the Bonifant Street Garage next to Metro. The Ellsworth Town Center garage and Wayne Avenue garage are CLOSED that day.
Parade goers are encouraged to take the Metro/Red Line to the Silver Spring station.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Family-friendly restaurants are located along the Parade route.
Please check out our many dining options in Silver Spring!
Road & Parking Garage Closures
ATTENTION! The Northbound and Southbound lanes of Georgia Avenue, from East-West Highway to Colesville Road will close at 6 a.m. and re-open at the conclusion of the parade, about 1 p.m. Traffic should detour to East West Highway.
The following roads will be closed on Saturday, November 22, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
North and Southbound Georgia Ave. between East-West Highway and Colesville Road.
Cedar Avenue between Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue.
Pershing Drive from Cedar Avenue to Veterans Place.
Veterans Place from Pershing to Ellsworth Drive.
Ellsworth Drive from Georgia to Cedar Avenues.
Roeder Road from Fenton Street to Cedar Avenue.
Fenton St. from Cameron St. to Wayne Avenue.
Wayne Avenue from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Bonifant St. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Thayer Ave. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
Silver Spring Ave. from Georgia Ave. to Fenton Street.
The Town Center public parking garage at Ellsworth Drive will close at 2 a.m. Saturday morning to accommodate the parade. The Wayne Avenue garage will also close beginning at 8am. Garages will re-open by 2pm.
Free parking will be available in the public garages including the Sligo Avenue Garage, the Cameron Street Garage, and the Bonifant Street Garage next to Metro. The Ellsworth Town Center garage and Wayne Avenue garage are CLOSED that day.
Parade goers are encouraged to take the Metro/Red Line to the Silver Spring station.
The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade continues rain or shine. If weather conditions become dangerous, an announcement will be made from the stage to take cover in the adjacent parking garages. If the dangerous weather causes the event to be canceled, an announcement will be made through Montgomery County Public Information Channels.
The Town Center public parking garage at Ellsworth Drive will close at 2 a.m. Saturday morning to accommodate the parade. The Wayne Avenue garage will also close beginning at 8am. Garages will re-open by 2pm.
Parking will be available in the public garages including the Sligo Avenue Garage, the Cameron Street Garage, and the Bonifant Street Garage next to Metro. The Ellsworth Town Center garage and Wayne Avenue garage are CLOSED that day.
Parade goers are encouraged to take the Metro/Red Line to the Silver Spring station.
Restrooms are available at the port-a-johns located on Veterans Place (behind the building).
The turkey became a symbol of Thanksgiving primarily due to its abundance in North America and its association with early harvest celebrations. Although it wasn't served at the first Thanksgiving in 1621, by the 19th century, it was popularized as the centerpiece of the holiday meal, largely thanks to the efforts of writer Sarah Josepha Hale.
The Silver Spring turkey has swirls as feathers because the image represents the "springs" of Silver Spring. The motif is continued throughout the logos of Silver Spring.