Veteran’s effort returns Fourth of July parade to Sioux Falls for nation’s 250th

For the first time in four years, a Fourth of July parade is scheduled to return to downtown Sioux Falls — in conjunction with the United States’ 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In recognition of the celebration, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution Mary Chilton Chapter will hand out 19,000 flags at the parade. And, if enough financial support is gathered in the coming weeks to make the parade a permanent holiday fixture, they will repeat the flag giveaway into the next decade.

Chapter members helped with that goal recently with a $10,000 donation. Organizers of the Fourth of July parade in Sioux Falls now are focusing their efforts on a fundraising campaign they call 250 for 250.

“If 250 people will give us $250, that will raise a lot,” said Aaron Levisay, committee chairman of America’s 250th Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade. “We could do it for future years. The city itself will have a cost (only) in terms of police presence, the fire department and EMS. We’re just trying to raise money privately so it can happen every year.”

Sioux Falls hasn’t hosted a Fourth of July parade since 2022 after beginning the annual event in the early 2000s. Threats of inclement weather canceled the parade in 2023 and 2024. Last year, the city canceled the parade in June, citing low participation.

Levisay woke up on July 5, 2025, disappointed that such an important holiday had passed by without a parade.

“We hadn’t had one in three years at that point, and I thought, we have to have one for America’s 250th. And it’s on a Saturday. It used to be the Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade, and (former) Mayor Mike Huether made a big push for it,” Levisay said.

“(Since then) it seems like they kind of went down in size, and they would get canceled for various reasons. Sometimes, I didn’t always think the reasons were that great. We’re sturdy South Dakotans. We can handle a little bit of rain. It was just important to have it for the 250th.”

City Councilor Rich Merkouris offered his support for bringing back the parade, but Levisay’s hope for a City Council resolution favoring the parade never happened. He continued to contact groups such as the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Center for Western Studies and individuals like Ben Jones, state historian and chairman of the South Dakota America’s 250th Commission.

Teri Schmidt and Experience Sioux Falls have offered their expertise during the planning process, Levisay said. His son, Nick, donated his time to set up web pages. Businessman Ryan Murphy has shared his experience gained over years of involvement with the 46-year-old St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) status was granted by the South Dakota Secretary of State office through the Sioux Empire Betterment Foundation.

“We’ll use that for now until after this year’s parade, and then we’ll most likely establish one of our own, like the Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade Foundation,” Levisay said. “But we hardly had time to waste, so I’m so thankful that this one was around and that their board signed on to help us.”

Local residents who joined the Sioux Falls parade committee include John Small, Dave Roetman, Kathy Tarrell, Debra Van Briesen, Mark Winters, Terry Wolf, Zon Tran and Julie Hammer. Small and his wife, Heidi, owners of Sunny 93.3 Radio, sponsor the annual Fourth of July fireworks show.

It was Small’s idea to raise funds through the 250 for 250 Club, Levisay said. If that amount — $62,500 — can be collected, it will provide expenses not only for this year’s parade but to make it a long-term event.

“We would like there to be one every year, but it’s going to cost,” Levisay said. “We need to rent the barriers and purchase the insurance. We’re learning a lot about what’s required of a parade. It’s what the mayor’s office was telling me: If the citizens want it, the citizens have to do it. That’s the best way of saying it: If we want this parade to be a thing, we citizens are going to have to make sure it happens every year.”

The DAR Mary Chilton Chapter’s 190-plus members are among those who want it to happen. In past parades, they have offered free American flags to parade watchers, and they plan to pass out thousands more this Independence Day.

DAR, a lineage-based organization, promotes patriotism, education and historic preservation. Celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary fits perfectly with those goals, said Tarrell, a former state regent of the South Dakota DAR and current president of the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation.

“What’s better than celebrating with a parade for Independence Day?” she said. “When the city said they weren’t going to do it, we thought we needed to step up.”

Even during the pandemic when the Independence Day parade was canceled, DAR members climbed behind the wheels of their cars to lead a procession through Sioux Falls. With the seed money from the Mary Chilton Chapter and the 250 for 250 Club contributions, Tarrell said, they hope the parade’s future isn’t threatened again.

Often, it’s the youngest and oldest parade watchers who most enthusiastically accept the flags that the DAR members offer, Tarrell said. The flags add to the day’s excitement.

“What we’re really hoping is that people turn out for this parade,” she said. “America’s 250th  anniversary is a momentous occasion. It’s important we go and celebrate and instill the importance of this year in children. In 50 years, it will be the 300th. I won’t be around, but the children will be, and it’s important we make sure they remember this occasion.”

Levisay, an Army veteran who also served in an active-duty position with the South Dakota Air Guard and was deployed multiple times, plans to spend the next few weeks recruiting participants for the parade and seeking funds. He envisions high school bands and ROTC members, colorful floats and enthusiastic bystanders waving flags.

“I really think having a community event like this is important,” Levisay said. “I hope we get a big turnout.”

Groups planning America’s 250th activities have been meeting in the Experience Sioux Falls office. Information on additional events will be released as they are finalized. Last year, there was a community lunch for 2,000 at the Levitt at the Falls bandshell. There are no plans for a picnic this year.

For information

• The official site for America’s 250th Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade: sfindependenceparade.com
• The link for the parade float registration: sfindependenceparade.com/registration
• The link to donate to the 250 for 250 Club: sfindependenceparade.com/donate
• The Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583707986375
• The Instagram page: instagram.com/sfindependenceparade