The 37th annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade is scheduled on Monday, September 6, 2021, starting at 9:30 am. Over 120 entries have registered to date with many based on this year’s theme “Joy and Peace to the World!”

This year’s parade offers a musical showcase with 12 bands and drill teams. This includes five marching bands, five flatbed bands and one special drill team.

Organizers are very excited for the return of the marching bands from St. Ambrose University, Rock Island High School, Moline High School, and Rockridge High School.  Adding to the musical variety will be flatbed bands featuring the Big River Brass Band, the John Mueller Band, Lyle Harris Acoustic Guitar, the Sheltered Reality Drum group, and local favorite Phyllis and 1Shark.

The popular Black Hawk Pipes and Drums and crowd favorite MetroSteppers from the Martin

Luther King Center’s Metropolitan Youth Program have also returned to the parade line-up.

The parade starts near Washington Jr. High School at 18th Ave. and 33rd St. The route travels west along 18th Ave., turns south at 24th St., then west on 25th Ave., and disbands into the Rock Island High School parking lots. Several businesses along the route will be offering food and drinks to parade watchers.

The first Rock Island Labor Day Parade was held in 1985 as part of the City’s Sesquicentennial (150th Birthday) Celebration. Over the past 37 years, the parade has grown into a popular event that averages 120 entries and draws thousands of spectators.

For more information, contact Art Milton at (309) 788-6157 or Mary Chappell at (309) 269-7944. Details about the parade and a map of the parade route are available at  www.rigov.org.