Marching Orders

2023 Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade Marching Orders

Parade Date: 
Sunday, May 7th, 2023

Time

All participants must check in by 2:40 p.m. The parade will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. The parade committee reserves the right to refuse to allow latecomers to march.

Weather

The parade will proceed, rain or shine. (Or snow.)

Parking 

A few churches may provide bus transportation; please contact your church office to inquire about their plan, if any, for group transportation to the parade.

You must find your own parking. The City's ParkDetroit app (available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play) can be used to find municipal parking. There will be limited parking available at the Annunciation Lot for $5. Some private parking surface lots and garages will have may also have some availability. Also, since the Parade is on a Sunday, all street-metered parking is free.

A few churches may provide bus transportation; please contact your church's office to inquire about their plan, if any, for group transportation to the parade.

Check-In & Line-Up

The parade will line up in front of the Compuware Building, on Monroe Street near Woodward. Consult the marching list for your group’s place in the parade procession by clicking HERE and check in at the check-in point for your division. 

Look for your group’s leader. Please line up neatly. Follow the directions of the marshals, who will be wearing yellow jackets, and your group leader. If your group holds a marching practice, please attend. 

Floats and other vehicles will be in a separate line. Do not line up with your group’s float or vehicle unless you are actually riding on the float/in the vehicle. Groups participating with floats please click HERE for further instructions.

The pre-parade dignitary reception will be inside the Atheneum Suite Hotel and Conference Center at 1:30p.m. (not inside the Compuware Building) this year. Please do not gather inside the Compuware Building.

Marching

The parade route is about a half-mile. Please continue past the reviewing stage and do not stop on the street or block the route.

Dress

Authentic Greek costumes are encouraged if available. Some groups may order custom t-shirts, sweatshirts, or jackets. Contact your group leader for information. 

Metropolitan Nicholas will designate the appropriate dress for clergy. Altar boys may wear their altar uniforms. 

If costumes or uniforms are not available, we recommend a dark coat and tie for men and corresponding women’s attire. For children, we recommend a light sweater/shirt with navy or black pants or skirt. Blue jeans are highly discouraged. The most important thing is that your group looks neat and uniform.

Restrooms

If needed, parade procession participants have been given permission to use the restrooms inside Buffalo Wild Wings and the Compuware Building. Please be courteous and keep their facilities clean.

Decorum

Alcohol, smoking, and throwing objects to the crowd are prohibited while marching. Pets/animals are also prohibited without advance permission.

Vehicles

All groups wishing to include cars, floats, or other vehicles in their unit must notify the parade committee in advance, or the vehicle will not be allowed in the parade. All vehicles must be decorated. Float themes must be approved in advance. Vehicles must line up by 1:30 p.m., before marchers arrive. Drivers must be licensed and insured. See the vehicle instructions tab for more information.

Emergency

Police and an ambulance will be on standby. Contact a parade marshal in a yellow vest if you or anyone is in need of emergency care.

More info 

Contact your group leader, or Yanni Dionisopoulos (detroitgreekparade@gmail.com) or Tom Christy (tchristy@greekparades.com) or visit our website: www.detroit.greekparades.com 

Twitter updates will be available on parade day. Follow us at @DetGreekParade to stay up-to-date.

(Click HERE for a one-document printable version of the Marching Orders, Parade Procession, and Float/Vehicle Information)