Celebration of the Wilmington Fire Department’s 100th Anniversary Continues with Grand Parade Downtown on Saturday, October 23

Mayor Purzycki is encouraging all city residents to show their support for all Wilmington firefighters, both past and present. Come Downtown on Saturday, October 23rd at 10 a.m. for the Wilmington Fire Department’s 100th Anniversary Parade.

The parade is part of Wilmington Fire Department’s month-long centennial celebration. Starting from 16th and King Street the parade travels past Rodney Square to 4th and King Street. The preliminary parade lineup has been released and the parade will feature more than 20 bands and more than 40 fire companies as well as police agencies, paramedics and EMS.

“This is an excellent opportunity for members of the public to come out to honor and celebrate the fine men and women of this outstanding department,” said Mayor Purzycki. “This is an extraordinary celebration that is well deserved, and special thanks go to Mike Hare and the members of the WFD 100^th Anniversary Committee, Chief Looney and his leadership team, and to all the sponsors and participants who have made this event possible – a parade that promises to be among the largest this City has ever seen.”

To accommodate for a large crowd, there will be free parking, but be advised of the street closures listed below on Saturday, October 23 from 7:30am to evening:

1. North King Street, from West 18^th Street/North Market Street to West 2^nd Street
2. East 16^th Street from North Walnut Street westbound to North King Street
3. North Park Drive and South Park Drive from North Van Buren Street to North King Street
4. North Market Street from 12^th Street to North King Street.

Below is a list of parade participants:

• The President’s Own United States Marine Corps Band from Washington, D.C.
• The University of Delaware Marching Blue Hen Band. This marks only the second time that the University of Delaware Band has marched in a parade in Wilmington.
• Citizens Hose Company of Smyrna
• Delaware National Guard 287^th Marching Band
• Salesianum, Cab Calloway, A.I. DuPont High School and The Delaware Military Academy High School Bands
• The Sixers Stixers Drill Team, the Official Drumline of the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Pipe and Drum Bands from:
  • The Wilmington Department of Police
  • The Delaware State Police
  • The Camden County Police and Fire Emerald Society
  • The Philadelphia Emerald Society
  • The Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums
  • The Washington DC Fire Department Pipes and Drums
  • The FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums 
• More than 40 Volunteer Fire Companies from throughout Delaware will participate in a combination of marching units and apparatus
• The Wilmington, New Castle County, and Delaware State Police Agencies
• The NCCPD and DSP Mounted Units
• The New Castle County Paramedics and St. Francis Hospital EMS 

For more information about the 100th Anniversary of the Wilmington Fire Department click here.