The Champaign County Freedom Celebration parade route will be returning to its roots in 2026.
The July 4 parade, this year celebrating America’s 250 years, will be returning to its previous route. Additionally, previous events will return and be reinstated at their original start times.
The parade begins at 11:05 a.m. in lot E-14 at First Street and Kirby Avenue in Champaign. It continues east on Kirby/Florida Avenue to Lincoln Avenue, then proceeds north on Lincoln to Illinois Street. It concludes in the parking lot of Illinois Street Residence Halls. This year’s grand marshal is TJ Blakeman, president of the Champaign County History Museum board of trustees.
The traditional 5K walk/run also returns. The youth run begins at 8:30 a.m.; the 5k starts at 9:05 a.m.
The evening entertainment program begins at 6 p.m. with fireworks set for 9:15 p.m.
Last year’s parade began at 4:30 p.m. and used the route that follows the University of Illinois homecoming parade. The youth run and 5K were not conducted.