Local Olympians headline Montgomery County’s Thanksgiving Parade celebrations

On By Littum

The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade will bring holiday cheer to downtown Silver Spring on Saturday, with marching bands, community floats and local Olympians Thea LaFond and Aaron Ghebre Owusu.

ABC 7 meteorologist Eileen Whelan will kick off the region’s largest parade at 10. The parade route starts at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street, proceeds south on Georgia Avenue and ends at Silver Spring Avenue.

Parade honoree and Silver Spring resident Thea LaFond won the Olympic gold medal in the women’s triple jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics with a second leap of 15.02 meters.

Mrs. LaFond has strong local ties. She moved to Silver Spring at the age of seven, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School and attended the University of Maryland, where she set a triple jump record at the 2013 NCAA Championships. In addition to his athletic career, LaFond worked as a teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools, teaching special education, math and a life skills course called Life 101.

Trained Quince Orchard Aaron Ghebre Owusu competed in the men’s 50-meter freestyle at the Olympics, finishing ahead of 23 others with a time of 24.25 seconds. At just 17 years old, he was one of only three Eritreans to qualify for a swimming event at the Games and was the 5th youngest among 74 competitors, according to the MCM.

In addition to local Olympians, parade-goers can look forward to a festive lineup of over 150 units, community groups, marching bands, lively floats, mascots and live performances by the Akhmedova Ballet Academy and Maryland Youth Ballet. The parade will feature stilt walkers, a giant T-Rex, an inflatable penguin and holiday characters such as performing dogs, Hanukkah bears, reindeer and Santa Claus.

Dance and band performances will take place near the starting point of the parade.

“The Thanksgiving Parade is a Montgomery County tradition that brings our community together to celebrate the start of the holiday season with friends, family and neighbors,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a press release. “This year, we’re excited to welcome local Olympians, talented performers and our dedicated community groups to make the day even more special. This parade highlights the diversity and vibrancy that we love about Montgomery County. It’s always fun to watch so a lot of people out on the street in Silver Spring.”

Parade organizers are looking for volunteers ages 13 and older to dress up as costumed characters, including elves and ribbon spinners. Volunteers must be available from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday and should report to the Silver Spring Civic Building at One Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring.

For details on volunteering and registration, visit Volunteer for the parade website.

In addition, several roads will be closed on Saturday from 06.00 to 1 p.m. due to the parade, including:

  • Georgia Avenue (northbound and southbound) from East-West Highway to Colesville Road;
  • Cedar Street between Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue;
  • Pershing Drive from Cedar Street to Veterans Place;
  • Veterans Place from Pershing Drive to Ellsworth Drive;
  • Ellsworth Drive from Georgia Avenue to Cedar Street;
  • Roeder Road from Fenton Street to Cedar Street;
  • Fenton Street from Cameron Street to Wayne Avenue;
  • Wayne Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street; and
  • Bonifant Street, Thayer Avenue and Silver Spring Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street.

Public parking is available at garages on Sligo Avenue, Cameron Street and Bonifant Street, but the Ellsworth Town Center garage closes at 2 on Saturdays.

Participants are encouraged to take the Metro Red Line to Silver Spring Station for easy access to the parade route.

“Montgomery County’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a great way to bring community members together to help kick off the start of the holiday season,” said Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson. “Thanksgiving reminds us all to be thankful for the blessings and freedoms we enjoy, as well as the responsibility we all share to give back and serve residents across our diverse community. The Council appreciates the hard work of Montgomery County government employees and volunteers who help organize and run this family-friendly event to help uplift our community each year.”

The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade will be held rain or shine. For details, visit the official website or call (240) 777-0311.

Photo: “Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade 2010 (5211776169)“of S Pakhrin from DC, USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.