Updated on 06.04.25

Get festive! We will hand out flags and have some fun activities to get decked out for the parade, but we encourage you to wear red, white, and blue. Get creative - check out photo albums from previous years.

We encourage kids of all ages to participate in the parade, knowing that the parade is geared toward youth. Grandparents, parents, and friends, are allowed to accompany their children in the parade. If you are young at heart and meet the spirit of the parade, join in on the fun!

While most participants walk, ride their bike or pull a wagon, a few participants decorate their golf cart, riding lawn mower, tractor, or convertible car. All motorized vehicles should line up on Layton Avenue next to the Lake Elmo Inn Event Center (right side of the street). Please look for signage to direct you.

If you are able to walk or bike to the parade area, we encourage you to do so. If you need to drive and park, please reference the detailed map for suggested parking spots designated by the (P) Parking symbol. Thank you to the Lake Elmo Inn Event Center and Christ Lutheran Church for use of their parking lots. 

The Lake Elmo Kids Parade has been around for 37 years and will continue to be focused on kids. Floats, handouts, and signage promoting businesses/organizations and political interests are not allowed. If you are looking for an opportunity in the future to promote your business or organization in Lake Elmo, please consider applying for Lake Elmo Night Out in August, or Light Up Lake Elmo in December. A few businesses sponsor 4th of July post-parade activities, so please contact us to see if this is a good fit in the future.

We will watch the weather closely and communicate updates beginning as early as the afternoon of July 3rd. Any and all updates will be communicated via the Connect Lake Elmo Facebook page and this website (4th of July Event Page). We will also work with the City of Lake Elmo and partner agencies to spread the word about any updates to the event. Look for the Connect Lake Elmo - Information tent in the Old Fire Station parking lot.