Mandan's Independence Day Parade and Street Festival Press Kit
The Mandan Independence Day Parade got it's start back in 1881. The only interruption that we have discovered is the year of statehood in 1889 when the parade was held in Bismarck.
The Parade has been run by a variety of organizations over the years. The longest reign was by the Mandan Jaycees in which 2008 was the last year the organization organized the parade. The size of the parade grew tremendously under the Jaycees into North Dakota's largest parade.
A group of Mandan citizens organized a parade committee in 2009 to continue it's long tradition. The committee then voted and approached the Mandan Progress Organization to add the parade to it's list of other events. The parade committee is proud to be a separate entity under the MPO.
The committee has adopted a new name - Mandan's Independence Day Parade & Street Festival. Along with the traditional parade, the Street Festival will be added to entertain parade goers before the parade. Stages will come alive with music, magic and much more along main street. In addition, street entertainers will roam along the parade route adding even more variety. A classic car parade is also scheduled as part of the street festival.
The 2009 theme "Riding Along the Old Red Trail" is to commemorate the opening of the Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway. A ribbon cutting for the Scenic Byway is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. in front of the Mandan Depot.
For more information on the scenic byway, visit www.OldRedOldTen.com.