When is it? Sunday, September 28, 2025. The Parade begins at 10 am. The festival exhibits and food sales open at the same time. Live entertainment begins at noon. The Parade lasts about 90 minutes, depending upon the number of participants. The festival ends at 5pm. APPLICATION OPENS JUNE 1.

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The parade and festival will take place “rain or shine.”  In case of severe weather, the decision to cancel will be made early the morning of September 28 and will be posted on this website and our Facebook & Instagram pages.

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What is the Wheaton Arts Parade? It is a day for citizens, artists, businesses, and civic organizations to come together, walking to celebrate art and the Wheaton community. The day is inspired by the parade and the closure of roadways to motor vehicles so that people can walk and dance, play music and show off their art. The parade liberates the community's creative spirit from the confines of everyday life. Freed from their cars, people can appreciate Wheaton at a slower pace, as a walkable community. The highway becomes a path toward creativity and the arts parade calls the community to follow. The parade leads to a festival that continues the celebration of art and Wheaton's diversity.

 

It is a time to gather in one place and eat together, to listen to music and readings, watch dance, view paintings and sculpture, to talk to each other and even make art. It is a chance for artists to exhibit and sell their work, but most importantly it is a time for local artists to be appreciated by the community and each other and for the community to see Wheaton's potential as an arts destination.

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Where does the parade take place? The parade assembles in the Ennalls Ave parking lot and Lot 13 in Wheaton, MD and walks up Ennalls to Georgia Avenue where it turns right and walks south to Reedie Drive where it turns right and right again onto Triangle Lane. It walks up Triangle Lane and around the new county office building to Grandview Ave where it turns left and marches down Grandview to Reedie Drive and ends after passing the reviewing stand and disperses with floats being placed around the Marian Fryer Town Plaza. Click here to see a map of the parade route.

 

Where does the festival take place? The festival area encompasses the Marian Fryer Town Plaza and portions of Reedie Drive between Grandview Ave and Triangle Lane and Grandview Ave from Veirs Mill Rd to the entrance to the underground parking garage. Click here to see a map of the festival area.

 

Where is the best place to watch the parade? The sidewalks along Grandview Ave, Triangle Lane and the West side of Georgia Ave offer excellent views. The parade stops along the way to give dancers and bands a chance to perform. Spectators also enjoy watching the parade from the festival area as it passes the reviewing stand.

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Where can we park? The county garage on Grandview Ave and the WMATA garage on Veirs Mill Rd are the recommended locations for parking. There is another county parking garage on Amherst Ave between University Blvd and Reedie Dr.

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How much does it cost to attend the parade & festival? The parade and festival are FREE to attend. It's FREE to walk in the parade. 

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Do I have to be an artist to be in the parade? On this day, everyone can be an artist. All you need to be in the parade is to make some art and carry it, pull it, push it, wear it, or perform it. Art is a painting, sculpture, mask, puppet, costume, dance, song, a drum beat, whatever. You can work alone or as a group -- as a family and neighbors, as a community organization, as a school or business. The most important thing is to have fun. Children younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Do I have to live in Wheaton to be in the parade? No. Although the parade celebrates the Wheaton community and Wheaton and Montgomery County artists, the parade invites ALL to participate from far and wide. Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, if you can create some art to push, pull, carry, wear or perform, you are invited. As a Maryland Arts and Entertainment District, Wheaton hopes to attract artists to live and work in the area and the parade is one way of showing that Wheaton is an arts friendly community and an arts destination. If you live in the Wheaton area, please join in and strut your stuff.

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What kind of art can be in the parade? There are no limits to the kinds of art that can be in the parade as long as it is "hand made" and is “people-powered.” Motorized vehicles are NOT permitted. The content of parade art is as unlimited as the imagination, but art makers should keep in mind that the spectators will include families and children. The parade is celebration of art and does not split hairs about the definition of art or the distinction between art and design. However, art/design that has the purpose of advertising a real business or product or of promoting a real political campaign is NOT permitted. But this does not mean that art/design cannot have a social, political or economic message. Parade art can be grouped into four categories: 1) Art you can wear: costumes & masks, puppets & other objects; 2) art you can carry: puppets & banners, posters & signs; 3) art you can wheel: floats of all sizes that can be pushed or pulled; and 4) art you can perform: musicians, bands and dance groups. In making parade art, there are three important considerations: scale, mobility, and stability. The parade is outdoors and spectators cannot get a close look at artwork from the sidewalk. Therefore, the scale of artwork needs to be large enough to be to be seen and appreciated.  Parade art needs to be light enough to be worn or carried or able to be moved on some kind of wheeled platform. Art also needs to be structurally sound enough to survive a half-mile walk and the shaking from bumps in the road and possible gusts of wind. Art makers need to make sure there are enough people on hand to get the art safely to the reviewing stand. The more the merrier. At the end of the parade, floats may be displayed at the festival but please make arrangements to remove your float and parade art after the festival ends at 5PM.​

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Can I perform at the festival? Musicians, dancers, and performers of all kind can entertain while marching in the parade or on one of the three festival stages. Festival entertainment ranges from puppeteers to poets, from rock music to rap, from Irish dance to tap. If you want to perform, just apply and tell us what you would like to do. Entertainment is free to the public and performers are not paid, but your performance, your gift to the community, will be publicized on our website and in the printed program. If funds are available, performers will receive a modest honorarium to cover their costs.

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Who can sell art and exhibit at the festival? The festival is a showcase for artists from the Wheaton and Montgomery County area, however artists from outside Montgomery County also are invited to exhibit and sell their work. Community organizations, government agencies, political candidates, and sponsors also may rent tented festival spaces to promote their organizations. However, they also are expected to use their exhibit space for some kind of art related activity or display. Because of the limited availability of tented spaces, priority will be given to local artists. There is a fee to have a tented festival space. Prices are set to encourage participation in the parade and to provide discounts for artists and community organizations. Fees are listed below and on the application form.

 

Can a business exhibit at the festival? Only businesses that sponsor the event may have a tented exhibit space at the festival. They also are expected to use their exhibit space for some kind of art related activity or display. A Sponsor's tent may be staffed by the business's representatives and printed materials about the business may be distributed. Sponsors' tents are complimentary for Platinum and Gold level sponsors. Silver and Bronze level sponsors must pay $300 to cover the cost of the tent, table and chairs. No video or audio advertising is permitted at the festival.

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How much does a tented exhibit space cost? The festival tented spaces are approximately 10' x 10' and come with a 6 ft table, 2 folding chairs and signage. Art vendors and exhibitors may bring additional tables, chairs and stands for display provided they do not encroach upon adjacent spaces or the walkway. The fee is discounted for artists, paraders and performers. Because there is a limited number of tented spaces available selection of vendors and exhibitors will be guided by WAP's aim to present a diverse collection of art mediums and styles with priority given to local artists.

Tented Exhibit Space Fees:

1) Individual Art vendors - $200 (deduct $50 if walking in the parade);

2) Two artists sharing an exhibit space - $125 each (deduct $25 each if walking in the parade)

3) Arts groups -  $300 (deduct $50 if walking in the parade);

4) Community organizations (including political organizations) $350 (deduct $50 if walking in the parade);

5) Solo performers on a festival stage $150 (deduct $50 if also walking in the parade)

6) Groups performing on a festival stage $250 (deduct $50 if also walking in the parade);

7) Sponsors at the Platinum and Gold levels get a complimentary festival space. Bronze and Silver level sponsors may have a festival space for an additional $200, whether or not they walk in the parade.

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What kind of art can be sold at the festival? WAP embraces a broad definition of art. All artwork and crafts that are handmade by the festival artist may be exhibited and sold. Artwork must be original and must not infringe on copyrighted material. Imports, kits, items made from kits, items using commercial patterns, items assembled from pre-manufactured components, items made from elephant or whale ivory, t-shirts not designed by the artist, or arts and crafts supplies MAY NOT be sold. Caricatures, face/body painting, and art made by artists during the parade or festival may be sold. Wheaton Arts Parade is not responsible for transactions between artists and the public. Transactions take place in the individual exhibition space that has been rented by the artist. Transactions, including the sales price and the collection of sales tax, are the responsibility of the artist. Artists should provide customers with a written receipt for all purchases and make customers aware of their return policy.

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Does the artist have to be at the exhibit? The festival is about appreciating the artist, the maker, as much as the art. It is a chance to meet the artist creator. Therefore, the artist exhibitor is expected to be with his/her art exhibit throughout the day, as much as possible. It is the artists responsibility to ensure that the exhibit tent is staffed from 10 am–5pm. Tear down must not begin before 5pm and should be finished by 6pm.