2025 Parade Theme: 249 and Counting!

This theme acknowledges our excitement as we approach the 250th celebration of the founding of the United States of America!

Thank you to our sponsors, friends, participants, spectators and volunteers. Registration and sponsorship for 2025 is now open.

The Northland Community Fourth of July Parade, started in 1962, is the only traditional parade on the 4th of July in Columbus, Ohio!

This parade is a completely volunteer effort which requires hundreds of hours of dedicated work to pull together this annual event. We ask our commercial and political partners to pay a fee each year for the parade which helps support it. The funds pay for the permit, police, insurance, trash pick-up, crowd control, banners, signs, float awards, and the wonderful grants we are able to give to our High School programs. These funds are raised entirely by the volunteers asking for donations. This year we have added an opportunity on the entry form for you to donate to help the parade as well. We ask that you consider donating if you don’t pay a fee and if you do, if you could add an additional donation, that would be very much appreciated.

Finally, if you know of anyone who would be interested in volunteering for the 4th of July Parade – before or during the parade – please have them email chair@northlandparade.org. We have plenty of positions for anyone who wants to volunteer and many hands make light work!

Grand Marshal Alicia Ward

“Change doesn’t happen from the top. It happens when everyday people decide to step in and help.”

Alicia Ward’s commitment to service began almost as soon as she could walk. At the age of two, she accompanied her father to the Old Soldiers Home, bringing smiles and companionship to the veterans. Throughout her childhood, her father’s work took him to over 70 countries around the world, exposing Alicia to a rich tapestry of cultures and igniting a lifelong passion for helping others — especially those facing challenging circumstances.

Before dedicating herself fully to community advocacy, Alicia spent over 20 years in business management, helping several fledgling companies grow into thriving enterprises. In 2009, she transitioned from the business world to devote her energy to serving others through education and community service.

In Columbus, Ohio, Alicia became a cornerstone of community leadership. As President of the Northland Community Council for more than seven years, she helped guide one of the city’s most diverse regions through growth, challenges, and change. From organizing public debates and volunteer banquets to collaborating with city officials on policy improvements, her leadership has left a lasting mark on over 135,000 residents. She also co-founded Elevate Northland, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the community as a whole, with a special focus on empowering immigrant and refugee families through education, entrepreneurship, and cultural celebration.

Alicia’s commitment to education is equally inspiring. She has worked as an academic tutor for more than a decade, helping children, many from immigrant families, overcome barriers and thrive in school. Whether she’s in a classroom, a boardroom, or standing before a crowd, Alicia brings the same passion for equity, empowerment, and excellence. Today, she works helping academically and developmentally challenged students at an elementary school in rural Ohio, continuing that mission in the classroom every day. Through it all, she has remained grounded, guided by a belief in dignity, resilience, and the quiet power of showing up for others.

Serving as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Independence Day Parade is not something Alicia ever expected. She’s grateful for the people who have stood beside her over the years — the neighbors, students, volunteers, and colleagues who cared enough to step in and help. For her, this honor reflects the quiet work of many hands working together to make life a little better for those around them.

Junior Grand Marshal Xavier Toles

Thank You Sponsors!

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