Birmingham's 79th National Veterans Day Parade starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, downtown, rain or shine. The route, the 5K and what is closed that day.

The 79th National Veterans Day Parade starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in downtown Birmingham, rain or shine. It is free to watch and is scheduled to run until 4:30 p.m., the National Veterans Day Foundation says. City offices, libraries and city schools are closed that day.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address; the details below are for Veterans Day 2026, from the foundation, the city, the library and the school district.

Who to call

  • National Veterans Day Foundation: contact page
  • City questions: 311, or 205-254-2489 (closed on city holidays)
  • Police non-emergency: 205-328-9311; 911 in an emergency

Is the parade on this year?

Yes. The foundation’s parade page lists the 2026 parade for Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Units had until Oct. 31 to register. The foundation says it has not authorized any other Veterans Day parade or event in the Birmingham area beyond its awards dinner on Nov. 10 and the street parade on Nov. 11. Its page still said on Oct. 25 that the parade marshal would be named later; we will add the name when it is announced.

The parade route

The route published on the foundation’s parade page:

  • Start: 18th Street and 9th Avenue North.
  • South on 18th Street to 4th Avenue North.
  • East on 4th Avenue North to 22nd Street.
  • North on 22nd Street to 6th Avenue North.
  • West on 6th Avenue North to 19th Street.
  • North on 19th Street, past City Hall.
  • End: 19th Street and 10th Avenue North.

The loop runs through the heart of downtown, so 19th Street in front of City Hall and the blocks of 4th and 6th Avenue North are good places to watch.

Road closures and parking

The city had not published 2026 street closures for the parade when we checked on Oct. 25. Expect them on the route streets above during the afternoon. For the awards dinner the foundation points drivers to the Boutwell Garage, 801 19th St. N., next to Boutwell Auditorium. See our getting around page for downtown decks and transit, and road construction and closures for other work downtown.

Why Birmingham

Birmingham calls itself the home of Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran from Birmingham, led a delegation to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Dwight Eisenhower in 1946 to urge a holiday honoring all veterans, not only those of World War I. Birmingham held the first Veterans Day activities in 1947, a World Peace Banquet and a parade, and Weeks led the parade until his death in 1985. President Eisenhower signed the law making Nov. 11 Veterans Day in 1954, and President Ronald Reagan awarded Weeks the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1982, according to the foundation’s history page.

The National Veterans Award Dinner

The foundation presents its National Veterans Award, given each year since 1954 to a veteran for service to veterans nationwide, at a dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. The reception is at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets were $75 to $100, and the foundation’s ordering deadline was Oct. 15. Boutwell allows only clutch purses and clear bags, and guests go through a magnetometer, according to the dinner page.

UAB Veterans Day 5K

The UAB Veterans Day 5K starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Railroad Park. Entry is $40, or $35 for military members and veterans, until prices rise after 11:59 p.m. Nov. 4; runners must be 13 or older, according to the race registration page.

What is open and closed on Nov. 11

  • City offices: closed, according to the city’s holiday list. Police, fire and 911 work as usual.
  • Birmingham Public Library: all locations closed, according to the library’s holiday closures list.
  • Sloss Furnaces: closed, according to the city’s listing.
  • Birmingham City Schools: no classes; the district’s 2026-27 calendar marks Nov. 11 as Veterans Day (calendar, PDF).
  • Trash pickup: Veterans Day is a city holiday. Check our trash and recycling guide for how pickup shifts; the city had not posted its Veterans Day notice on Oct. 25.

What this means for you

  • Plan a downtown afternoon on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The parade starts at 1 p.m., and the route crosses the main avenues of the city center.
  • Do library and city errands on Nov. 10 or Nov. 12.
  • Register for the 5K by Nov. 4 to get the lower price.

Related: things to do this month, history and landmarks and Thanksgiving.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the Veterans Day parade in Birmingham?

The 79th National Veterans Day Parade starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, and is scheduled to run until 4:30 p.m., rain or shine, the National Veterans Day Foundation says. It is free to watch.

What is the Birmingham Veterans Day parade route?

The foundation’s route starts at 18th Street and 9th Avenue North, goes south on 18th Street to 4th Avenue North, east to 22nd Street, north to 6th Avenue North, west to 19th Street, north on 19th Street past City Hall and ends at 19th Street and 10th Avenue North.

Why is Birmingham called the home of Veterans Day?

Birmingham World War II veteran Raymond Weeks led a delegation to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower in 1946 to propose a holiday for all veterans, and Birmingham held the first Veterans Day parade and banquet in 1947. President Ronald Reagan gave Weeks the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1982, the foundation says.

What is closed in Birmingham on Veterans Day?

City offices, all Birmingham Public Library locations and Sloss Furnaces are closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Birmingham City Schools have no classes that day.