The Kennett Memorial Day Parade made a triumphant post-COVID return last year, and the area's largest Memorial Day event will return this year on May 29. The parade always promises to be a fun, family-friendly and patriotic event to remember. It serves as a public tribute to honor our U.S. military personnel who died while serving with devotion, loyalty and commitment in the United States Armed Forces to protect the freedom we all enjoy together.

All organizations, groups, families, clubs, churches, companies, individuals and sponsors are invited to walk, march, ride and/or drive. To become a parade participant and/or sponsor, simply sign up on the Kennett Memorial Day Parade website at https://bit.ly/KennettParade.

Over a dozen marching bands and musical groups are expected to participate in a spectacular musical showcase. Notable groups invited for this year include a Mummers band, the Philadelphia Eagles Pep Band, bagpipers, fife and drum corps, bugle corps, high-school bands, dancers, classic cars, colorful floats created by various community organizations, historic military re-enactors, vintage military equipment, fire trucks and much more.

The parade is produced by an enthusiastic committee of volunteers supported by the nonprofit Kennett Collaborative organization who transitioned the parade’s production last year under the tutelage of local businessman Bill Taylor who retired from the parade production efforts after 17 dedicated years.

Dave Haradon, who was the Parade Chair for the first time in 2022, said, “Bill Taylor and his staff at Taylor Oil were very patient with our Parade Production Team last year and patiently trained us about all the intricacies of this great event. It’s now up to us to proudly carry on his marvelous legacy.”

Daniel Embree, Kennett Collaborative’s new executive director, said, “After moving to Kennett Square in the midst of the pandemic, last year’s Memorial Day Parade was one of my first opportunities to experience the town’s sense of community spirit in person. The parade is such an important part of Kennett Square’s character. As I stood on the sidewalk, surrounded by so many families and children waving American flags and cheering, I remember saying out loud, ‘This is why I moved here.’”