Miami Beach's Veterans Day Parade steps off at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, on Ocean Drive, with a 12:15 p.m. Lummus Park ceremony. Route, parking, timing.

Last checked Oct. 28, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Details come from the city’s 2026 parade announcement, its events calendar listing, its America 250 page, its 2025 parade announcement and its observed holidays list. City Hall: 305-673-7000.

Yes, it is on in 2026. The City of Miami Beach holds its 18th annual Veterans Day Parade at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, on Ocean Drive from Fifth Street to 15th Street. The city calls it the largest parade of the day in South Florida.

Updated Oct. 28: the city has announced the 12:15 p.m. ceremony in Lummus Park, the Nov. 7-10 sunset bugle calls and a letters drop-off on parade morning.

The short version

  • When: 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11
  • Where: Ocean Drive, Fifth Street to 15th Street, South Beach
  • Cost: free to watch
  • Who marches: veteran and military groups, marching bands, music and dance groups, local businesses and community organizations
  • After the parade: a ceremony at 12:15 p.m. in Lummus Park
  • Still to come: road closures and parking notices

When and where

The city’s events calendar and its America 250 page give the 2026 parade as:

  • Date: Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day
  • Step-off: 11:11 a.m.
  • Route: Ocean Drive from Fifth Street to 15th Street
  • Calendar block: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 11:11 start marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, when the World War I armistice took effect. The parade is part of the city’s America 250 program this year.

The ceremony in Lummus Park

The city’s 2026 announcement says the celebration moves into Lummus Park at 12:15 p.m. for a ceremony with:

  • the presentation of colors by the Miami Beach Police and Fire Department honor guards
  • the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem and a moment of silence
  • a 21-gun salute, taps and a wreath-laying
  • remarks from U.S. Southern Command representatives and elected officials
  • the unveiling, by Miami Beach Girl Scouts, of the restored Fire Station No. 4 flag box

Marching in the parade: veteran and military groups, marching bands, music and dance performers, local businesses and community organizations. The city has not named a grand marshal. In 2025 the All Veteran Parachute Team jumped over South Beach; the city has not announced a jump for 2026.

Before the parade: bugle calls and letters

  • Bugle call “Retreat,” Nov. 7-10: the call sounds at sunset each evening at The Betsy Hotel, 1440 Ocean Drive; at Lincoln Road and Pennsylvania Avenue; and at 73rd Street and Ocean Terrace.
  • Letters of gratitude: from Nov. 2 the public can send a letter or video tribute through the city’s America 250 page. Submissions are projected onto The Betsy’s Orb from 6 to 11 p.m. Nov. 7-10.
  • Parade morning: from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 11, the Parks and Recreation tent at Fifth Street and Ocean Drive takes unsealed letters and cards for active-duty service members, which the city will send to military bases. Visitors there get a “Forever Honored” commemorative hat while supplies last.

The partners are VFW Post 3559, The Betsy and Badger, a veteran-owned company.

Road closures and parking

The city had not published 2026 road closures when this page was checked. Expect Ocean Drive between Fifth and 15th streets to be closed to traffic during the parade. Closures will be listed on our road construction and closures page when the city posts them.

  • Holiday parking rules: Veterans Day is on the city’s observed holidays list. Residential zone signs that say “INCLUDING HOLIDAYS” are enforced that day.
  • Getting there without a car: the free city trolley and Freebee rides cover South Beach; routes and hours are on our getting around and parking page.
  • City offices: Veterans Day is a city holiday, so City Hall is closed.

What to bring

  • The parade runs late morning on a weekday in the sun. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
  • Lummus Park runs along the beach side of Ocean Drive for most of the route.
  • Arrive before 11 a.m. to find a spot along the route.

What this means for you

  • The parade is on Veterans Day itself, a Wednesday, not a weekend.
  • Plan around a closed Ocean Drive in South Beach from late morning.
  • The city’s listing names its arts and culture program, mbartsandculture.org, as the organizer; groups asking about marching can start there.

More in November: Thanksgiving in Miami Beach, things to do this month and the Art Deco District and Ocean Drive.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Miami Beach Veterans Day Parade in 2026?

The city lists its 18th annual Veterans Day Parade at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, on Veterans Day itself.

What is the parade route?

Ocean Drive from Fifth Street to 15th Street in South Beach. In 2025 the parade started at Fifth Street and Ocean Drive and finished at 15th Street.

Why does the parade start at 11:11 a.m.?

The time marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, when the armistice ending World War I took effect in 1918.

Is the parade free?

Yes. It is a city event on a public street, and the city lists no ticket or registration to watch.

What happens after the parade?

A ceremony starts at 12:15 p.m. in Lummus Park with the police and fire honor guards, a 21-gun salute, taps, a wreath-laying and remarks from U.S. Southern Command representatives and elected officials.