CRESTVIEW, Fla., April 15, 2026—Okaloosa County’s America 250 Commission Grand Parade and Celebration is scheduled for May 9 in downtown Crestview.

The parade will consist of floats, marching bands, veteran tributes and participation from community organizations and cultural groups.

Attendees will be encouraged to line up on Main Street wearing red, white and blue or colonial/continental-period costumes.

Crestview native speed skater Olympian Mia Manganello, who won a bronze medal for the United states at the 2026 Winter Olympic games in Milan, Italy, in February will be one of the grand marshals for the parade.

Festivities include not only the parade, but also live entertainment, a variety of food trucks and patriotic vendors, bringing together community members of all ages.

The parade and celebration will run from 4-10 p.m.

Vendor and parade participants can register on Eventbrite. Individuals interested in volunteering can register on the City of Crestview website.

The celebration is sponsored by the America 250 organization, Okaloosa County America 250 Commission, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, City of Crestview, Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, Okaloosa County League of Cities and Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

For additional information regarding the upcoming May 9 America 250 Grand Parade and Celebration in Crestview, contact Melissa Carter, City of Crestview special events coordinator, at carterc@cityofcrestview.org or (850) 974-8136.

Information on countywide America 250 events and updates can be found at Get the Coast.

About the Okaloosa County America 250 Commission

The Okaloosa County America 250 Commission was founded by resolution of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Jan. 20. The purpose of the commission is to support efforts to provide activities for citizens and visitors of Okaloosa County throughout the 2026 calendar year celebrating the founding of the United States of America, designated as the “America 250 Celebration Year.” 

The Commission is made up of 18 members that include:

• President of the Sons of the American Revolution (chairman)
• Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter
• Representative of the West Florida Daughters of the American Revolution
• Director of the Tourist Development Department,
• Representative of the Okaloosa County School District
• Representative of the Florida State Historical Commission
• One representative of each chamber of commerce
• One mayor as designated by the League of Cities
• One general officer from the U.S. military
• Representative of the Krewe of Billy Bowlegs
• President of the NAACP
• District commissioner of the Choctawhatchee District of the Gulf Coast Council of Scouting America
• One member appointed by each of the five county commissioners

The Commission will operate through Jan. 31, 2027.

by Shae Bonifacio, City of Crestview public information officer