Hornell area communities will celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
In Hornell, the city’s Fourth of July parade will be bigger and longer in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Hornell VFW Post 2250 and Hornell Partners for Growth are teaming up to promote a strong and sizable veterans presence in the parade.
Following the parade, the action moves to Veterans Memorial Park at James Street for classic cars, live music, swimming, games, food and craft vendors and a spectacular fireworks show.
For many park-goers, it will be their first opportunity to see the new Veterans Memorial Park Wall at the end of Park Drive.
The wall features a White Sands Hackett stone veneer with one-foot-tall black letters spelling out “Veterans Memorial Park” and emblems representing the six military service branches.
Here’s a rundown of Fourth of July happenings in the Maple City:
New route, veterans presence for Hornell July 4th parade
America’s heroes will be front and center at Hornell’s annual Fourth of July parade.
Any veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, regardless of service branch, era, campaign, active duty, reserve or retired status, is encouraged to participate this year.
“Our goal is to create a strong and unified veterans formation for the parade,” said Valorie Whitehill, HPG executive director.
This parade route will not be business as usual either with a new starting point at Hornell High School.
Participants will lineup at 11:30 a.m. in the Raider Road and State Street parking lot.
The parade starts at noon, with marchers setting off from the high school, traveling down State Street, making a right turn onto Seneca Street and then a left onto Main Street.
The procession will march to the end point at Bank Street.
Organizers say the longer route will provide spectators with more room to spread out and enjoy the parade comfortably.
Parade trophies will be awarded for “Most Interactive,” “Most Patriotic,” “Junior Showstoppers” and “Community Favorite.”
Classic cars, free swimming, vendors, music, fireworks at James Street Park
James Street Park will host a Cruizen Time classic car show starting at 9 a.m. Car show awards will be announced at 3 p.m.
Other activities in the park get going at 1 p.m. There will be live music by “Proof of Life,” “Southbound” and “Haywire,” an array of food and craft vendors, a free bounce house and other activities for families and children.
The Veterans Memorial Park pool will be open from 12:30-6:30 p.m. There is no cost to swim on the holiday.
Be sure to stick around for a spectacular 30-minute fireworks show starting at 10 p.m.
Arrive early and plan for big crowds, judging by the turnout for Independence Day 2025 at Veterans Memorial Park at James Street.
Visit HPG on Facebook for a complete list of events being held in the park on July 4.
Andover hosts ‘America 250’ parade on July 4th
Andover traditionally draws large crowds to its day-long Fourth of July celebration.
Organized by the volunteer Andover Fourth of July Committee, the 2026 theme is, not surprisingly, “America 250.”
The Fourth of July parade on Main Street gets the day started at 10 a.m.
After the parade, head over to the Andover school grounds for vendors, food, games, attractions and live music.
“Ballad at Midnight” performs from 2 to 5 p.m., followed by “The Meat Cutters Union” on the school grounds stage from 6 to 9 p.m.
A special Fourth of July event this year is the Baker-Swan Community Appreciation. Stop by 7 Church St. between noon and 4 p.m. for a free sundae.
The Skylighters of New York fireworks display is scheduled for dusk.
Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell, Andover plan parades, events for USA 250 July 4th celebration
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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By Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune | USA TODAY Network
