The 2026 Carbon County Veterans Day Parade will step off at 2 p.m. Sunday in Weatherly, hosted by the Dietrich-Luhman American Legion Post 360 of Weatherly and the Carbon County Veterans Council. The rain date is Nov. 15.

The Parade Committee announced that the opening of the parade will feature a patriotic flyover provided by Flying Colors Gender Reveal, adding a special salute to the occasion.

For Weatherly, this year’s parade carries particular significance. The last time the Carbon County Veterans Day Parade was held in the borough was in 1999, making this year’s return a meaningful opportunity for the community to come together and honor those who have worn the uniform of our nation.

“I encourage everyone throughout Weatherly and Carbon County to come out on Sunday, bring your American flags, bring your families, and help us give our veterans the welcome and recognition they deserve,” said American Legion Post 360 Commander Harry Shelhamer. “These men and women have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms. Let’s show them that their service matters, that their sacrifices are remembered, and that our communities stand behind them.

“It’s a tremendous honor to bring the Carbon County Veterans Day Parade back to Weatherly. I am proud that our community has the opportunity to welcome it home once again. I want to thank the American Legion Post 360, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360, Weatherly Borough and municipal officials, our community members, and the Carbon County Veterans Council for their support and hard work in helping make this parade possible.”

The parade

Motorists and residents should anticipate temporary traffic restrictions, road closures and delays throughout Weatherly.

At the Route 93 and Plane Street intersection, access to Plane Street will be closed to traffic beginning at approximately 11 a.m. This closure is to accommodate the lining up of all parade divisions on Plane Street with the first division starting near Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 318 Plane St.

This area will become a controlled-access zone reserved for authorized parade participants and vehicles only. Parade entrants arriving from Route 93 should not attempt to enter Plane Street through the closure and will need to follow the designated alternate approach as directed by police and traffic-control personnel.

Additional traffic-control measures will be in effect along the parade route, including West Main Street, East Main Street, Wilbur Street, First Street, Carbon Street, Second Street and Blakeslee Avenue. East Second Street will also accommodate designated school bus parking and will be subject to parking restrictions.

Traffic crossing the East Main Street bridge will be controlled by Carbon County Fire Police, with vehicles permitted to cross during designated breaks in the parade when conditions allow.

Registration

Parade registration will take place at the Weatherly Municipal Building, 61 West Main Street starting at 11:30 a.m. Only one member of each registered group is required to stop at registration.

Participants are encouraged to arrive early and proceed to their assigned division staging area, and report to their division coordinator for proper staging. All participants are asked to be in place by 1:30 p.m.

Parade route

The parade will form facing east on Plane Street and travel east onto West Main Street, crossing the bridge onto East Main Street before turning south onto Wilbur Street, where the parade judges will be stationed, WLSH will be broadcasting live, and Blue Ridge Communications TV-13 will be airing the parade live.

From there, the route continues east on First Street, south on Carbon Street, east on Second Street, and south on Blakeslee Avenue before crossing Third Street into Eurana Park, where the parade concludes.

Parade lineup

Division One: Weatherly Police Department; Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League Color Guard; Grand Marshal Sergeant Major Bayliss with Crystal View Carriages; American Legion Post 360, Commander Harry Shelhamer; 30th District Commander American Legion, Terri Krecker; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360, President Georgeann Herling; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360, Betty Heney; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360 Poppy Girls; Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League Detachment 626.

Also: Weatherly Area High School Band; Pennsylvania State Police Troop N, Weatherly Borough, Mayor Mike Bellizia and Borough Manager Tracy Grover; Weatherly Borough Council Members Norman Richie, Joseph Cyburt and Greg Walters; Girl Scout Troop #32932 of Weatherly; Cub Scout Pack 007 of Weatherly; Scouting America Family Troop 25, White Haven; Pre-K Counts of Weatherly Area School District; Weatherly Faith Church / Rainbows, Prims & Royal Rangers; Weatherly Hillclimb Association; Weatherly Area Museum; VALOR Clinic Foundation; Citizens’ Fire Company #1 of Weatherly; Beaver Meadows Volunteer Fire Company #1; Lehigh & Lausanne Rural Volunteer Fire Company, West Hazleton Fire Company

Division Two: Lehighton UVO Color Guard; Lehighton UVO Members Vehicles; Lehighton Sons of American Legion Squadron 314 Color Guard; Lehighton Sons of American Legion Squadron 314 Vehicles; Lehighton American Legion Post 314 Riders; Lehighton UVO Gary Beaver, Shoemaker-Haydt Unit 314 American Legion Auxiliary; Lehighton Area High School “Indian Pride” Band/

Also, Girl Scout Troop 3802, Lehighton; Pyro Joe, LLC; Yenser’s Family Farm / Yenser’s Tree Farm; Victory Fuel Oil; Lehighton Ambulance Association; Lehighton Fire Department; Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association; Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1; Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company; East Penn Township Volunteer Fire Company.

Division Three: Nesquehoning Memorial VFW Post 8008 Color Guard; Nesquehoning Memorial VFW Post 8008 Poppy Court; Panther Valley JROTC; Panther Valley High School Marching Band; American Legion Post 123, Lansford; Vietnam Veterans Organization of Carbon County; Navy Club of Carbon County USS Ship 260 USS Carbon County; USVV1 Pocono Base Submarine Veterans.

Knights of Columbus Monsignor Angelini Assembly; Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA Service Unit 309; Lansford Alive with Angela Nardini; Priority One Real Estate Team; Coaldale American Legion Post 170; American Fire Company #1, Lansford; Diligence Fire Company No 1, Summit Hill; Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company #1; Nesquehoning Hose Company #1; New Columbus Fire Company.

Division Four: American Legion Post 269 Color Guard, Palmerton; Palmerton Area High School Marching Band; Palmerton UVO Banner Carriers; Palmerton American Legion Post 269, Commander; Palmerton Legion Post 269 WW2 Jeep; Palmerton UVO Trailer with Members; Palmerton American Legion Post 269 Miss Poppy & Mascot; Girl Scouts of Eastern PA; Carbon County Fair Queen & Court; Jukebox Cruisers Car Club; Gregory Badger Air Calliope; Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company.

Division Five: American Legion Post 304 Color Guard, Jim Thorpe; American Legion Post 304 (Marching Members); American Legion Post 304 (Vehicles); Sons of the American Legion Squadron 304; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 304; Jim Thorpe Area High School Marching Band; Carbon County State Representative, Doyle Heffley; Carbon County Commissioner, Michael Sofranko.

Carbon County Sheriff’s Office; Carbon County Republican Committee; Carbon County Recorder of Deeds, Donna Gentile; Carbon County Democrats; Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank; Jim Thorpe Fire Department; Lake Harmony Fire Company, Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies.