2025 Independence Day Celebrations

Cedar City Independence Day Parade & Festival 2025

85 Years of Tradition – "Freedom in Action"

The Cedar City Lions Club proudly presents the 85th Annual Independence Day Parade & Festival, celebrating this year’s theme: "Freedom in Action." Since 1940, this cherished tradition has brought our community together in a vibrant display of patriotism, service, and unity.

Parade Details

• Date: July 4, 2025
• Time: Begins sharply at 9 AM
• Location: Main Street, Cedar City
• Opening Ceremony: The parade kicks off with an inspiring flyover by the SUU Helicopter School, followed by the Civil Air Patrol flag bearers and Army National Guard leading the procession.

For 85 years, the Cedar City Independence Day Parade has honored the brave individuals and defining moments that shape our nation. This year’s theme, "Freedom in Action," highlights the many ways Americans actively uphold and protect our liberties—whether through military service, community leadership, acts of kindness, or innovation.

Parade participants will bring this theme to life with floats, performances, and displays that celebrate:

• Honoring Service – Recognizing military members, first responders, educators, and volunteers who dedicate themselves to our country and community.
• Acts of Citizenship – Showcasing civic engagement, leadership, and community-driven initiatives that strengthen our democracy.
• Historical Moments – Commemorating key events and figures in America's ongoing journey toward freedom.
• Innovation & Progress – Celebrating those who push boundaries and drive positive change for future generations.

Festival at Festival Park

Following the parade the celebration continues at Festival Park until 3 PM, featuring live entertainment, delicious food vendors, family-friendly activities, and more. This festival is a chance for the community to come together, enjoy the holiday spirit, and reflect on what freedom means to us all.

Join us as we mark 85 years of tradition and celebrate the many ways "Freedom in Action" continues to shape our community and nation. Let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future!

Submit an application to participate Here (this will go to forms for parade and vendors)

Independence Day Parade Entry Application

Application Deadline - June 15th

No Late Submissions will be accepted.

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Cedar City Lions Club Independence Day Parade Friday, July 4, 2025.

To increase parade safety and quality for attendees, we have updated our rules.

PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY

All registrations must to be submitted by 10pm, June 15. 2025. No entries will be accepted after this date.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS– ALL ENTRIES WILL:

• Demonstrate the parade theme– “Freedom in Action”
• Entries will be judged and awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with prizes of $500, $300, or $200, respectively.
• An Entry space is defined as 35 feet from the front of entry (vehicle included). This does not include parade spacing.
• If your entry is longer, you will need to sign up for additional separate spaces. Please sign up for the appropriate number of entry spaces to accommodate length of your entry(s). There is a $10 fee for each additional space needed.
• Safety Walkers (SW): Provide (2) designated persons per entry space, must be a minimum age of 18 years, (larger entries will require additional walkers).
• A SW walks along each side of the entries to monitor the sidelines and keep spectators away from the entry.
• All SW’s must be present w/entry to check-in to receive designation badges. Badges must be worn throughout the event. Entries without the appropriate number of walkers will not be permitted to proceed.
• Designated Distribution Personnel (DDP): Provide sufficient DDP to safely handle and distribute your handouts/candy.
• DDP must be in addition to and separate from SWs, and must be a minimum age of 12 years old. No min. or max. number of DDP’s.
• All DDP’s must be present w/entry at check-in to receive designation badges. Badges must be worn throughout the event.

PARADE RULES: – These are essential for the safety and enjoyment of the participants and spectators. These must be followed or your entry will be pulled from the parade.

• THEME: All entries: Decorate your entry according to the Theme. We strive to make this a festive event and love to see the creativity and patriotism of the community shine.
• FLOATS: Floats should be designed and built to tolerate some wind. Care should be given to avoid any fire hazard or structure which could fall or land on participants, or spectators. No open flame or fireworks are allowed. Entrant is fully and personally responsible for the structure, function, and any hazard posted by your entry.
• VEHICLES: A licensed driver, minimum age of 18yrs, must drive any motorized vehicles. This includes all motorcycles, ATVs, floats or towed vehicles, and any other types which could not be legally operated within the city without a proper license. No exceptions will be allowed.
• All motorcycles, ATVs, etc. must be operated in accordance with their manufacturer’s specifications. This includes any limits on the number of persons riding on or in the vehicle.
• All vehicles will move with the parade in a slow and safe manner. There will be no exhibitions of speed or other maneuvering by drivers.
• DISTANCE: All entries are to stay within 30 yards of the entry preceding it. Special dance, drill, horse, etc., or other maneuvers must keep moving with the parade. NO STOPPING, this causes obvious delays and is not permitted.
• HANDOUTS/CANDY: All items are to be distributed along the parade route sidelines (i.e. the fog line) by the Designated Distribution Personnel (DDP), to the right or left of the Safety Walkers (SW): at the white/yellow fog lines.
  NO EXCEPTIONS
• Items cannot be stored on the entry; this is imperative for safety concerns. Plan accordingly.
• NO throwing or distributing from the entries will be tolerated. Items can only be distributed from the white and yellow roadside fog lines nearest the spectators.
• The Designated Distributor Persons (DDP) must be separate from the Safety Walkers (SW). Parents with strollers/wagons are permitted but DDP must be 12 years or older and able to follow guidelines. No children under 12 may walk with DDP or parents’ w/strollers/wagons due to safety concerns.
• Horses: Horses will be staged on Shakespeare Lane in the order they enter the parade to accommodate needs. Enter to line up will be at S 100 W. Each Entry will need to provide their own Pooper Scooper. This is mandatory.
• ARRIVAL: All entries, with all riders or participants, will be in place 1 hour prior to the parade starting time. Please have sufficient supervision or chaperones for your  entry for safety and organization purposes. Please provide adequate hydration for your participants. We will provide Porta-Putty’s at S 300 W parking lot for your convenience.
• Return: All entries will return to the place of the beginning of the parade. See attached Map of parade route.
• Please arrange for pickup/rides from at the SUU parking lot (S 300 W Center Street)

Please use common sense and be alert to all moving vehicles and trailers. Be courteous and follower parking directions! Talk to your group members about staying safely out of the way of moving traffic. Do not block traffic or other entries with vehicles or animal

trailers on the street or in the parking lot.

Arrival Time: starts at 7:00am

Parade begins: 9:00 am sharp.

CHECK IN: Please arrive NO LATER THAN 8:00 am to your designated street assignment. You will Check-in on your assigned street; sign waivers; receive Entry Number to affix to your entry, and Badges. All SW & DDP’s must be present at check-in.

Parade Route: 300 W Center Street east to Main Street then north to 400 North

Return: Will be updated.

Please select an application below: