The 2026 Riverboat Heritage Days Parade will honor veterans and active-duty military in recognition of 250 years of the United States. This year’s parade theme focuses on service, sacrifice, and community. Parade start is 3PM, and line-up can start as early as 1PM at the Aitkin County Fairgrounds.

Parade entries are encouraged (but not required) to reflect the theme in a respectful and appropriate way. Entries should be family-friendly and designed to move smoothly along the parade route to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants and spectators.

Completion of this entry form helps the parade committee with lineup order, spacing, and day-of coordination.

PLEASE NOTE

Veterans and active-duty service members are encouraged to arrive early, as they will be placed toward the front of the parade in recognition of their service and will serve as our Grand Marshals.

All other parade entries will be lined up on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to be positioned near a specific group or participant, please plan to arrive around the same time, as lineup adjustments will be limited on parade day.