Red, White & YOU: A guide to the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade

Rough Draft has partnered with the Dunwoody Homeowners Association to present the 2024 4th of July Parade. The parade, which has the theme “Red, White & YOU,” is the largest in the state.

PARADE SCHEDULE & VIEWING

Parade Route
The parade route is approximately 2.7 miles and steps off from the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Jett Ferry Road at 9 a.m., proceeds west on Mt. Vernon to Dunwoody Village, turns right onto Dunwoody Village Parkway, circles around the Parkway, and left into Dunwoody Village at Starbucks.

Viewing Information
Parade spectators are encouraged to set up chairs along Mt. Vernon and circle around the Dunwoody Village Parkway into Dunwoody Village. Viewing will start on the west side of Jett Ferry on Mt. Vernon. Mt. Vernon Road, between Jett Ferry Road and Dunwoody Village, will be closed from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Parade Festival
After the parade ends at Dunwoody Village, stick around for the festival! The 116th United States Army Band and Dunwoody Idol Winner Lauren Schroder will perform. There will be a bounce house, Kona Ice, and an opportunity to meet local businesses and politicians. Scout Troop 266 will be selling Slope’s barbecue as a fundraiser (pre-order at troop266.us) and the Rotary Club will be selling hot dogs to raise money for the organization. There will be large tents with tables, chairs, and fans.

PARADE & FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS

Twilight Twirlers and Dunwoody Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team
Find out more about these entertaining community groups at this link .

DINOWOODY
The Torres Family, who have become local celebrities thanks to the front yard dinosaur inflatables, have something really special planned for the 2024 Parade.

Discover Dunwoody
The team will be driving the amazing Re-Discover Dunwoody Trolley and handing out pool balls and stickers.

Atlanta Falcons
Freddie Falcon and some Atlanta Falcon Cheerleaders are back for the Parade and will have a special tent afterward at the Festival.

2024 Dunwoody Idol
Dunwoody Idol Winner Lauren Schroder is taking part in the Parade and performing at the Festival in the Village.

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond
Michael Thurmond shows up to the Dunwoody Parade year after year. As his tenure as CEO is coming to an end, he’s back to celebrate one last time!

DCSD Superintendent Devon Horton
Dr. Horton is back for his 2nd year with the Parade, and he will be riding next to District 1 Board of Education Board Member Anna Hill.

Georgia Spelling Bee Champion – Sarv Dharavane
As a 4th grader at Austin Elementary, Sarv won the 63rd Annual Georgia Association of Educators State Spelling Bee in March. He then placed 22nd at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Weinermobile
Oscar Meyer’s iconic wiener-on-wheels is coming back to Dunwoody!

116th United States Army Band
The 116th has one of the busiest schedules of any unit in the Georgia National Guard, and is a fixture of ceremonies throughout Georgia.

Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps
Spirit has become one of the most revered drum and bugle corps, while remaining true to their Southern heritage and continually striving to push the boundaries of artistic innovation.

Dunwoody High School Band
The DHS Band was a crowd favorite in the rain at last year’s Parade. This year the Band Boosters are inviting current members and alumni to march!

Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps
Atlanta CV is an all-age performing drum corps competing in both Drum Corps Associates and Drum Corps International sanctioned events.

DONATIONS

Atlanta Lions Club
Bring your used eyeglasses to the parade for recycling at the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. The Lions International Youth Ambassadors and their host families will march with the Atlanta Lions Club and the Lighthouse Mobile Eye Clinic van. Look for the colorful flags of the world as the students will be parading with their national flags and carrying eyeglass collection boxes.

Community Assistance Center
The Community Assistance Center has been working to prevent hunger and homelessness in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs for over 35 years. Bring your donation of nonperishable canned foods and/or towels and linens in good condition for CAC’s three pantries.

2024 GRAND MARSHAL: David Abes

David Abes, the founder of DASH Hospitality who created an entertainment district in the heart of Dunwoody, will be this year’s parade grand marshal.
Abes is the driving force behind an effort to create a multi-use entertainment and restaurant complex in the heart of Dunwoody that now includes  Bar{n} booze {n} bites, Message in a Bottle, Morty’s Meat Supply and several food truck concepts.
“I am beyond honored to be the grand marshal this year,” Abes said on Instagram after the announcement. “It’s awesome seeing the entire Dunwoody community come together for the parade.”

Abes served as the general manager of the Atlanta Fish Market during the 1996 Olympic Games, and later as the director of operations for the ownership group Here to Serve Restaurants for 14 years, helping to grow the company from three to14 restaurants.

He then held the role of COO for Buckhead Life Restaurant Group. In 2018, Abes decided to strike out on his own and started Dash, which includes Morty’s Meat & Supply and Message in a Bottle.

Abes is a member of the Dunwoody Village Merchants Association and a staunch supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (now called Breakthough T1D), and has hosted a fundraiser called Green Egg & Kegs for the last four years.

The post Red, White & YOU: A guide to the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta .