Hillsboro residents and families who have been yearning for a community parade will soon be able to enjoy a celebration – and some candy.

The Hillsboro Rotary 2021 Hometown Heroes Parade will take place on Saturday, August 28, starting at 10 am at Hare Field and moving along the same route in Downtown Hillsboro as in previous 4th of July parades.
 

Hillsboro Rotary 2021 Hometown Heroes Parade, presented by the City of Hillsboro
Saturday, August 28
10 am “step off” at 2nd & Main in Downtown Hillsboro
 

For more than 40 years, the Hillsboro Rotary Club has produced a parade in the City of Hillsboro for tens of thousands to gather. In addition to Hillsboro Rotary, this year’s parade organizers include the Hillsboro Downtown Partnership, the City of Hillsboro, and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

“We have had so many calls, emails, and other requests for a parade. ‘Are we going to have a parade? When is the parade going to be?’” said parade organizer and Hillsboro Rotary member Bob Rollinger, who is co-chairing the parade with Pat Robison. “The community loves the parade. We felt this was an opportunity when we could get everyone out to celebrate those who brought us through this.”
 

2021 Parade Grand Marshal: Everyone who helped others

While the 2021 parade will not take place on July 4th, it will happen in time to celebrate everyone in Hillsboro who made life better for others during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s parade grand marshal will be the entire community, rather than a single person or group.

“We all want to thank our teachers, our medical professionals, our frontline workers in grocery stores and restaurants, our delivery drivers, our first responders, our service members, our businesses and small business owners, our parents, our volunteers, and everyone who has put others first,” said Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway. “Hillsboro is a community of people who genuinely care about each other, and we are fortunate that we can celebrate those who make it so.”
 

Parade route notes

• Roads within the parade route will close at 8 am. As in previous parades, the Hometown Heroes Parade will start at Hare Field, then move west on NE Grant Street, turn south on NE 2nd Avenue, go east on Main Street, north on NE Cornell Road, before wrapping up at Hare Field.
   
• Priority seating for seniors and community members with disabilities will be reserved in front of the Walters Cultural Arts Center – at Main Street and NE 5th Avenue – once again by the Hillsboro Optimist Club, which will also provide bottled water and cookies.
   
• The Hillsboro Farmers’ Market will be open for businesses during the 2021 Hometown Heroes Parade on Main Street between 1st and 2nd avenues, and on 2nd Avenue between Washington and Main streets.
   

Parade participant registration deadline: August 22

Honored heroes and other groups are invited to register to participate in the parade here or go to HillsboroRotary.org and clicking on ‘Events’ and ‘Parade’. The deadline to register to participate in the 2021 Hometown Heroes Parade is August 22.

Previous parade participants include Hillsboro businesses and residents, horses, motorcycles, floats, marching bands, street performers, and many more.