The Bell Tower Festival parade will feature a refreshed set of award categories this year, designed to spark creativity, boost community participation, and celebrate Jefferson during the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The parade is organized by the Rotary Club of Jefferson, marking its 30th year as sponsor. Rotary leaders announced the updated categories following several weeks of planning discussions and input from club members, past participants, and community partners.
New parade award categories for 2026 are
–Stars & Stripes Ingenuity Award – Honoring the most creative and visually striking use of red, white, and blue.
–Most Creative Human‑Powered Entry (including pets) – Celebrating walkers, families, youth groups, and pet‑friendly entries.
–Most Creative Small‑Wheels Entry – Highlighting imaginative use of bicycles, scooters, golf carts, and other small‑wheeled vehicles.
–Liberty & Greene County Legends Award – Recognizing entries that showcase local history, heritage, and hometown stories.
–Grand Prize – America’s 250th Birthday (Bell Tower Festival theme) – Selected by People’s Choice voting from the four Signature Award winners.
“These new categories are designed to bring out the best of Greene County’s creativity and community pride,” said Sam Harding, Rotary Club president. “We want entries that make people smile, tell a story, and remind us of what we value about our great nation.”
The Rotary Club encourages churches, civic groups, class reunions, businesses, families, friends, and farms to consider entering the parade. The updated categories are intended to make participation more accessible and more fun for a wide range of groups.
Entry information, deadlines and parade line‑up details will be released in late April. Those who want more information can contact Jefferson Matters at 515‑386‑2155 or BellTowerFestival.com.
