For decades, Juneau has celebrated community icons as grand marshals in the Fourth of July parade. This year, the downtown parade will be missing those local heroes.
Alice Nestler, volunteer director of the parade through the Juneau Festival Association, said interest in the parade was flagging this year.
“We contacted a few individuals regarding the honor of grand marshal and some did not respond while others declined,” she said.
The parade this year will go on as usual, just without grand marshals. Last year, the downtown parade celebrated local high school students as grand marshals.
“It would have been wonderful to be able to honor some of the incredible citizens that help keep this town safe and fun,” Nestler said. “However, extenuating circumstances being as they were, it was not possible this year.”
She said the lack of grand marshals this year is indicative of challenges moving forward.
She said Jean Sztuk, who was honored as a grand marshal after her passing, used to run a flawless parade. Sztuk was the parade director for more than 40 years. For the past three years, Nestler said, the Juneau Festival Association has been in desperate need of people to step up and volunteer, or there won’t be a future parade.
“We currently have two volunteers putting the entire parade together,” she said Thursday.
Additionally, next year will be Nestler’s last planned year as director.
While there won’t be grand marshals, the downtown parade’s theme is “Juneau’s Winged Heroes,” and it will feature many floats. It’s scheduled as usual for 11 a.m. on July 4.
Douglas parade will honor the Juneau Disc Golf Club
Meanwhile, Maggie Swanson, president of the Douglas Fourth of July Committee, said they have chosen The Juneau Disc Golf Club to be the 2025 Douglas Fourth of July grand marshals.
“They established the Treadwell Disc Golf Course, which has been a big hit,” she said. “It is ranked 12th in the state and is accessible for those with mobility issues since it is on the trail system.”
The Douglas Fourth of July Committee has upcoming events, including the annual bicycle and sidewalk chalk decorating on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Douglas Library parking garage, as well as the soapbox car show and challenge heat on Thursday evening at St. Ann’s Avenue. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, an annual community picnic and watermelon eating contest will be held at Sandy Beach.
More events can be found at https://www.douglas4thofjuly.com/summer-program.
The Douglas parade is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. on July 4.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz.garrett@juneauempire.com or (907) 723-9356.
