Independence Day celebration returns to Montreat

Montreat Conference Center will host parade, 5K and more

The Valley Echo
June 25, 2021

Montreat Conference Center will hold its annual Independence Day Parade on July 3. Photo courtesy of Montreat Conference Center

An annual Fourth of July tradition is returning to the Swannanoa Valley this year.

The Montreat Conference Center will host its annual summer holiday celebration, including the 19th annual Montreat Gait 5K , which begin at 7 a.m., Saturday, July 3, and the 52nd annual Independence Day Parade along Lookout Road and Assembly Drive. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m.

The festivities are a traditional homecoming celebration for Montreat families from all over the country, and culminates with the popular parade, which was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montreat Conference Center is asking that attendees follow the Center for Disease Control guidance for large gatherings, due to intergenerational aspect of its ministry. Parade-goers are asked to wear masks and maintain social distance.

The theme of the 2021 parade will be “Monterat MASQuerade,” and attendees are encouraged to arrive well in advance to secure parking and a place to view the route.