Our full summer event schedule is complete with the Town of Duck 4th of July Parade and Community Celebration! The annual one-mile parade route begins at the crest of the hill on Scarborough Lane, travels east towards the ocean, turns left onto Ocean Way, and then continues onto Christopher Drive to end at Pamela Court. Please note: no part of the parade will take place on Duck Road.
2026 Parade Date
Friday, July 3, 2026
9:00 a.m.
2026 Parade Registration is now open!
Join the fun! All floats, community groups, subdivisions, local business entries, moving vehicles, and groups of walkers are required to register to participate in our parade and must be assigned a staging location. Registration is free but required to participate. Please be sure to read all rules and guidelines prior to registering. All registration information requested must be completed and submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in order to participate. Registrations received after this date will not be accepted. A paper form can be provided if requested.
The Town of Duck would like to invite any Veterans that will be in attendance to join in the fun! Walk-ups are welcome. However, we would appreciate for you to sign up online so that we can contact you with more specific details or changes that may occur closer to the date. If you wish to drive in the parade, please specify while signing up and complete the registration form so that we can ensure adequate staging area for the vehicle.
Any questions about the parade or registering should be sent to Betsy Trimble at btrimble@ducknc.gov.
A Community Celebration will be held immediately following the parade at the Duck Town Park. The celebration will feature live music, cold refreshments, including watermelon provided by Green Acres Farm Market, and the awarding of the parade trophies.
Awards Categories to include:
– Mayor’s Award
– Best Local Business Entry Award
– Best Community Entry Award
– Spirit Award
2026 Parade Grand Marshal- Rob Mooney
The Town of Duck is pleased to announce that Rob Mooney will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 4th of July Parade and Community Celebration which will take place on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Rob first began visiting the Outer Banks, and Duck in particular, in the mid-1980s. The memories made during summer vacations, combined with the area’s natural beauty, eventually led him and his partner, Patti, to become full-time residents in 2017 following his retirement from the New York Police Department Homicide Division.
Rob believes what makes Duck truly unique is the strong sense of community. It is a place where kindness and caring are a part of everyday life. Soon after moving to Duck, he and Patti saw these characteristics firsthand when a community member shared on social media that they had dropped an envelope containing a large amount of cash. Within hours, someone returned the envelope with the full amount still inside. In that moment, Rob and Patti knew they had found the right place.
Rob served on the Duck Town Council from 2019 to 2023. Though he had not originally set out to serve in public office, a conversation with then–Chief of Police John Cueto encouraged him to get involved by running for Town Council. He was elected and was honored to serve the community in this role. During his tenure, he feels that Council became more responsive to the community.
Rob shares that it is an honor to serve as this year’s 4th of July Grand Marshal. This year’s Independence Day celebration is especially meaningful as our nation marks its 250th anniversary. Though young by comparison, he believes it remains the greatest country in the world.