National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham — where to watch and who is coming [MAP]

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Veterans Day
World War I recognized at the National Veterans Day Parade 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama. ( Kristina O’Quinn/Bham Now)

Today, the organizers of the 76th  Annual National Veterans Day announced this year’s lineup and parade route through downtown Birmingham.

Longest-running Veterans Day parade in America

The Magic City is home to the longest-running Veterans Day parade in the nation. 

  • Clydesdales - 75th Veteran's Day Parade (Bham Now)
  • Vintage Firetruck - 75th Veteran's Day Parade
  • Vintage Jeep - 75th Veteran's Day Parade
  • Motorcycle with sidecar - 75th Veteran's Day Parade

The national holiday was the brainchild of Birmingham native Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran who led a delegation in 1947 to lobby General Dwight Eisenhower to change the existing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. 

Seven years later, President Eisenhower signed legislation making Veterans Day a permanent national holiday on our calendar.

Below is a video Bham Now produced about Weeks’ great-grandson and family’s continued connection to the local event and holiday.

Details about the 2023 National Veterans Day Parade

What should we expect to happen at the 2023 version of the parade? 

Rain or shine, the parade is on Saturday, November 11, 1:00PM. It begins at the Alabama Power Building on 18th Street and ends on 19th Street by City Hall.

This year’s route is slightly modified. Here a map:

Veterans Day Parade
(National Veterans Day Parade)

Who is participating?

  • Veterans service organizations
  • Members of the U.S. armed forces and Alabama military supporters
  • Local color guards
  • High school bands and drill teams
  • Miss Alabama Brianna Burrell
  • Local Shriners
  • “Hank” the Horse

“This is such a unique event for our city and for honoring the many men and women who have served and currently serve our country. We invite individuals and families to join us downtown to help us celebrate, remember and pay homage to those who have given their all for the U.S. and its people.”

Mark Ryan, President of the National Veterans Day Parade

For more information, please visit nationalveteransday.org.

Have you ever been to the Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham? It is a treat. Tell us your favorite memory of the parade by tagging us on social media at @bhamnow

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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