Grand Miners Parade
The Grand Miners Parade is bringing the celebration back through Historic Downtown Cottage Grove with a new route that blends parade tradition, downtown energy, and the current festival flow.
The Grand Miners Parade is more than a lineup of entries. It is one of the moments when the whole festival spills into the streets. Families line the route, music fills the air, and every entry helps tell the story of community, tradition, and creativity.
Whether you are bringing a float, a decorated vehicle, a youth group, a performance team, or a simple hometown entry with a lot of heart, there is room for you in the parade.
Parade applications are open now, and this year we are using a fillable PDF application. Visit the join page to download the application, review the Code of Conduct, and get all submission instructions.
This year’s theme celebrates the 100th anniversary of Buster Keaton’s The General and highlights three things that help tell the story of Cottage Grove: our beautiful rivers, the railroad, and the film industry that has left its mark here.
Use your imagination with a theme that feels like a beautifully crafted silent film brought to life. Think vintage motion, steam engines, river imagery, expressive costumes, cinematic storytelling, old-time spectacle, and creative parade entries that capture the charm and drama of early film.
Bring energy and a clear idea
Strong entries usually have a clear look, a fun visual theme, and something memorable for the announcer to say as they pass by.
Keep it family-friendly and safe
The best parade entries are welcoming, polished, and easy for spectators of all ages to enjoy from the sidewalk.
Perfect for many kinds of groups
Businesses, churches, clubs, youth teams, civic groups, families, and individual community members are all welcome to participate.
Let your creativity show
This year’s theme opens the door for silent film-inspired ideas, railroad heritage, river imagery, vintage style, and old-fashioned parade fun.
The Grand Miners Parade will now focus on a route that brings the parade through Historic Downtown Cottage Grove. This gives spectators a beautiful downtown viewing experience while giving parade entries a clear route from lineup to finish.
Lineup on 5th Street, then east through Historic Downtown on Main Street, ending on Gateway Boulevard.
Non-street-legal vehicles and off-highway vehicles cannot drive back to the parade start after the parade ends. Please unload and stage on 5th Street, then have someone move your trailer to Harrison Elementary School so your entry can be loaded up after the parade.
Parade day moves fast, so it helps participants know the rhythm ahead of time.
Parade Highlights
A cleaner look at some of the moments that make the Grand Miners Parade one of the most memorable parts of the festival.
