Knoxville’s 98th Veterans Day Parade will march down Gay Street on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, beginning at 10:45 a.m. The annual parade is organized by the American Legion Post 2 with support from the City of Knoxville Office of Special Events. The event will be held rain or shine. 

This year’s parade includes 105 parade units, the most famous being the Budweiser Clydesdales. Other participants include area high school marching bands and ROTC groups, vintage military vehicles, local businesses and organizations. 

Parade-related closures begin at 8 a.m. with the following roads:

• Gay Street between Sevier and Hill avenues
• Hill Avenue between Gay and State streets
• Main Street between Walnut Avenue and Gay Street

These streets will close at 9 a.m.:

• Market Street between Union and Clinch avenues
• Union Ave between Walnut and Gay streets

Wall Avenue will close at 10 a.m., and Gay Street between E. Hill and Magnolia avenues will close at 10:15 a.m. 

All roads will reopen by 12:30 p.m. Reminder: parking in the 400 Block of Gay Street will be limited due to the first Open Gay Street on Friday evening. 

On-street parking on Gay Street between Hill and Magnolia avenues, which includes the Gay Street viaduct, will be unavailable starting at 7 a.m., as will on-street parking on Market Street, Union and Wall avenues. 

Parade attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Parking in City-owned garages and metered parking not in the parade zone will be free on Friday in honor of Veterans Day. 

Lights on the pedestrian bridge over Henley Street at Clinch Avenue will be red, white and blue Nov. 9 - 13 in honor of Veterans Day. 

For additional information about the City’s Office of Special Events, which assists festival planners with road closures and other services, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/Events.