Baltimore's annual Veterans Day Parade steps off Saturday at noon from Charles and Centre streets, kicking off a roughly two-and-a-half-hour procession of marching bands, honor guards, ROTC programs and military units through downtown. Eight streets will be closed for the event, with some closures starting as early as 6 a.m., so drivers heading downtown this weekend should expect to plan around the disruption.
When and Where the Parade Moves
According to CBS News Baltimore, the parade proceeds south on Charles Street to East Lexington Street, turns left onto Guilford Avenue, right onto East Saratoga Street, then right onto Holliday Street before ending along East Lexington Street at Gay Street near the plaza. That account lines up with The Baltimore Sun, which reports the parade begins at the Washington Monument at noon and ends near War Memorial Plaza at 2:30 p.m. Not every outlet agrees on the exact path, however — Patch describes a similar route heading south on Charles Street before following East Lexington, Guilford Avenue, East Saratoga and Holliday streets, while WBAL-TV, in a report tied to the 2024 event, described the parade turning east onto Baltimore Street before ending at War Memorial Plaza. CBS News Baltimore is a media partner for this year's parade and says the event will be streamed live online and through the CBS News app.
The route covers roughly 0.7 mile from the Washington Monument to War Memorial Plaza, per CBS News Baltimore's reporting. The parade is expected to wrap up around 2:30 p.m., matching the timeline reported by The Baltimore Sun.
Eight Streets, Staggered Closure Times
The Baltimore Department of Transportation said the streets listed for Saturday's parade will close with most closures beginning around 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted, a timeline also reflected in Patch's reporting that eight streets will have closures for Saturday's parade. Charles Street will close from Lombard Street to Madison Street starting around 9 a.m., while Centre Street closes from Park Avenue to St. Paul Street at the same time. Guilford Avenue shuts down from Pleasant Street to Saratoga Street, and Saratoga Street closes from Guilford Avenue to Gay Street, both also beginning around 9 a.m. Hamilton Street will close from St. Paul Street to Charles Street around 9 a.m. as well.
Two closures start much earlier. Mount Vernon Place between Cathedral and St. Paul streets, and Holliday Street between Saratoga and Lexington streets, both shut down at 6 a.m., according to Patch's reporting — making these the earliest closures tied to Saturday's parade. Lexington Street's closure boundaries are reported differently depending on the source: Patch lists Lexington Street closing from Charles Street to Gay Street beginning around 9 a.m., while the The Baltimore Banner lists Lexington Street closures running from Charles to St. Paul streets and separately from Guilford Avenue to Gay Street.
Transit Detours and Driving Advice
Commuters relying on the Charm City Circulator should plan ahead. For the 2025 parade weekend, The Banner reported that the Purple and Green routes would operate with detours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Banner also reported that the city's transportation department urged residents to expect delays and use alternate routes, with drivers possibly facing temporary traffic stops.
A Fair Rounds Out the Afternoon
The Health and Resource Fair runs from noon to 3 p.m., overlapping with the parade, which is expected to wrap up around 2:30 p.m. It offers entertainment, food trucks and family activities alongside fresh produce giveaways, blood pressure screenings and other wellness services, according to CBS News Baltimore. The event's website says the day aims to build connections, strengthen community and support veterans and military families, inviting the community to honor those who served and recognize their contributions and sacrifices.
