Bowling Green’s Veterans Day Parade will return this weekend for its 24th year.

The parade on Saturday will bring out around 80 groups for the march followed by a flag raising ceremony at the Warren County Courthouse.

Brent Belcher, Bowling Green Parks & Recreation director, said it’ll be a “big day” that connects people from across southcentral Kentucky and veterans from across the country.

“I think it’s a rather rare parade that you’ll see,” Belcher said. “Because of that, it really unites our community in a unique way. Obviously, a lot of parades are fun, they’re entertaining, they’re full of joy — and this one is too — but there’s also a lot of meaning in this parade.”

Celebrations will include community recognitions and honor Kenneth Cone, an Air Force veteran and co-owner of Cone Funeral Home, as the parade’s 2023 Grand Marshal.

Two fifth graders from W.R. McNeill Elementary, Maci Miller and Felix Blackerby, will also be recognized as winners of a Veterans Day essay contest and will ride along in the parade.

The parade will feature local JROTC programs such as the Warren Central Dragon Battalion, Moss Middle School Dragon Leadership Corps and the Warren East Raider Squadron, led by Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott.

A “super band” consisting of musicians from Bowling Green High School, Greenwood High School, Warren East High School, Warren Central High School and South Warren High School will also join the festivities.

Belcher said it can be an emotional time for families as they pay tribute to the sacrifices of their loved ones. He added that it’s “really special” to see veterans of all ages and walks of life come together in one place.

“You see veterans along the way sometimes saluting the flag,” Belcher said. “There’s some very special, poignant moments that I think this parade brings that makes it a really special day.”

He said while spectator numbers were down last year due to rain, they had no issue finding volunteers to march on through the downpour.

“That did not stop (our veterans) from coming out and celebrating that day,” Belcher said. “That’s the really unique thing about this event, it just has that special emotional tribute aspect.”

Thankfully, this weekend’s forecast shows little chance for rain, meaning guests and paraders may walk away undrenched.

The parade will last from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the flag ceremony will begin at 11:11 a.m., coinciding with the time at World War I officially ended on Nov. 11, 1918.

The parade route will begin and end near Circus Square Park, going down College Street, 10th Avenue and State Street before ending at 6th and State Street.

A recording of the parade will be played on Bowling Green’s government access broadcast, channel 4, the following day.

For additional questions, contact Bowling Green Parks and Recreation at 270-393-3549.