Community Corner

34th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival Set for Monday in Falls Church

Find links here for parking information and road closures.

The City of Falls Church Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival takes place rain or shine on Monday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall (300 Park Ave.). Admission is free.

Festival-goers of all ages will enjoy inflatable attractions, pony rides, arts and crafts, food, civic and business booths, stage entertainment, and more. Live musical entertainment will be provided by 40 Thieves and the City of Falls Church Concert Band. The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps will perform at the start of the parade, which will be led by this year’s Grand Marshals Barry and Kathy Buschow. The Buschows are longtime City residents known for their dedication to public service and making the City a better place to live.

The Memorial Day Parade and Festival is sponsored by (in alphabetical order) Beyer Auto, ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers, Falls Church News-Press, Gutter Helmet, Healthy Smiles Dental, Kitchen Saver, LeafFilter, Mosquito Shield, Nu Look Home Design, Passanante’s Home Food Services, Renewal by Andersen, and Verizon FiOS.

Schedule

  • 9 a.m. Don Beyer Volvo 3K Fun Run
    Start Line: Great Falls & Little Falls Streets; rollerblades & bicycles not permitted. No registration required.
  • 9:15 a.m. Music by 40 Thieves
    Main Stage, Park Avenue and Little Falls Street
  • 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Amusements for Children in Cherry Hill Park
    Moon bounces, pony and train rides, and more!
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tours of 164-Year Old Cherry Hill Farmhouse
    Visit www.fallschurchva.gov/CherryHillFarmhouse for more information on the history and special events.
  • 11 a.m. Veterans Ceremony at Veterans Memorial
    Outside the Community Center, featuring Keynote Linden Dixon, 2014 Department Commander, The American Legion Department of Virginia
  • 12:15 p.m. Music by City of Falls Church Concert Band
    Main Stage, Park Avenue and Little Falls Street
  • 2 p.m. Parade, Led by Grand Marshals Barry and Kathy Buschow
    Trophy Presentation after Parade

About the Parade
The parade features civic groups, regional and City government officials, city departments including the Police and Volunteer Fire Departments, dance troupes, clowns, marching bands and much more. The Grand Marshals are Barry and Kathy Buschow (www.fallschurchva.gov/GrandMarshal). The Parade will be filmed by Falls Church City Cable Television and aired at a later date on Cox channel 11, Verizon channel 35, and RCN channel 2.

Road Closures
Several City of Falls Church streets will be closed to vehicular traffic, or will only be open to local or parade traffic, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.

  • 5:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (except for limited vendor traffic; Map): Park Ave. will be closed from N. Maple Ave. to N. Virginia Ave. and Little Falls St. will be closed from Park Ave. to Great Falls St. This closure blocks access to and from Governors Court during these hours.
  • 8 – 10:30 a.m. (Map): Streets along the route of the Don Beyer Fun Run will be closed. The run begins at Little Falls and Great Falls Sts., then goes left (west) down Great Falls St., then left on Pennsylvania Ave., right on Fulton Ave., right on N. Oak St., left on Lincoln Ave., left on N. West St. and left on Park Ave. ending at Little Falls St. In addition to the roads listed above being close, please understand that all vehicles located within the perimeter of the Fun Run route will not be permitted to leave during this road closure.
  • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Map): Parade staging areas will be closed to vehicular traffic on sections of Lincoln, N. West, Highland, N. Oak, Greenwich and Park Ave.


Parking
Visitors to the Memorial Day festivities are reminded to NOT park in private parking lots with posted “No Parking – Towing Enforced” signs. The private lots are for the customers of businesses only. Many businesses enforce parking restrictions on weekends and holidays and may tow without notice. Free parking is available on many side streets; please check signs for time limits. Free parking is also available at Kaiser and George Mason Square garages; see www.fallschurchva.gov/Parking for details.

Law Enforcement Presence
As part of event protocol, both the City of Falls Church Police and Sheriff’s Office, along with their respective partners, will have a presence at the festival and parade. The Sherif’’s Office K9 unit, comprised of FANY, a German Shepherd, will be on patrol alongside other K9 units.

More Information
The Memorial Day Parade and Festival is hosted by the City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department. For more information about the event, call 703-248-5178 (TTY 711) or visitwww.fallschurchva.gov/MemorialDay.

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