A Parade Eight Years in the Making
Lynn, MA is getting its parade back.
The 2026 North Shore Veterans & First Responders Parade Committee of the Lynn Veterans Council is organizing the return of a beloved community tradition, with the event officially set for Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 1 p.m. A rain date of September 27 has also been established.
The last parade was held in 2018. COVID-19 brought the annual event to a halt, and the years since have seen the Lynn Veterans Council quietly working to rebuild the momentum needed to bring it back at scale.
This year, they’re going big.
Why 2026 Is the Right Year
Three major milestones converge on this event.
The parade will honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Global War on Terror. It will also celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. And it will pay tribute to the veterans, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and first responders who serve the North Shore every single day.
“From our firefighters, our police, our ambulance drivers, the first responders — we have that because of those people,” said Ward 1 City Councilor Peter Meaney, who serves as treasurer for the parade committee. “We want to give back on this. We want to put on the best parade the North Shore has ever seen.”
The Route and What to Expect
The parade will begin at North Shore Community College and proceed down Washington Street, turning onto Market Street and continuing through North Common Street, Franklin Street, Boston Street, and Stetson Street before finishing at the Manning Field parking lot.
Along the route, spectators can expect a lineup of military and civic vehicles, including a 40-ton World War II Sherman Tank, vehicles from the National Guard, and equipment from Lynn’s fire and police departments. The Greater Boston Bagpipe and Drum Corps will lead the procession.
Committee member and former Parade Grand Marshal David J. Solimine Sr. is slated to participate with his 1878 horse-drawn hearse — a stunning piece of history that has appeared in previous Lynn parades.
Family-Friendly and Community-Centered
The parade is designed to be an all-ages experience. Children will have the opportunity to see military and emergency vehicles up close at Manning Field after the march. Organizers emphasize that this event is about the entire community, not just veterans.
“It’s for the city of Lynn, and the whole North Shore,” said Lynn Veterans Council President Wayne Johnson. “We want to celebrate everybody.”
How You Can Support the Parade
The Lynn Veterans Council is entirely self-funded on this effort — no public dollars are involved. The committee estimates it needs approximately $100,000 to produce the event properly, accounting for the significant cost increases since 2018. Marching bands that cost around $1,100 in 2018, for example, now run closer to $2,600.
Donations of any amount are welcome. Donors of $1,000 or more will receive a certificate of recognition and two reserved seats in the review stand.
To donate, make a check payable to Lynn Veterans’ Council (for the 2026 parade) and mail it to:
Lynn Veterans’ Council, P.O. Box 8271, 245 Maple Street, Lynn, MA
For more information or to get involved, contact Council President Wayne Johnson at (781) 462-8888 or email [email protected].
Why It Matters
This parade represents more than a civic ceremony. It marks Lynn’s reemergence as a city that shows up for its heroes. After years of setbacks — a pandemic, rising costs, and organizational rebuilding — the Lynn Veterans Council has rallied elected officials, local businesses, and community members around a single day of recognition.
With three historic anniversaries colliding in 2026, September 20 in Lynn will be a day worth marking on your calendar now.
