ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE TRAFFIC IMPACT

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 77th Annual Armed Forces Day Parade

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 29, 2026)


77TH ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE


The 77th Annual Armed Forces Day Parade will take place Friday, May 1st, and begin on Market Street at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr
Blvd at 10:30 AM, traveling northbound toward Aquarium Way. The parade may be viewed from any public sidewalk within this corridor. The estimated length of the parade is 30 minutes.

To clear the roadway for the parade and provide time for security inspections, Market Street will be closed between W 12th Street and Frazier Ave at 9 AM.

The full closure of Market Street will also limit all eastbound and westbound traffic at the following intersections for an estimated 2.5 hours (9 AM - 11:30 AM):

· 11th Street

· 10th Street

· Martin Luther King Jr Blvd*

· 8th Street

· 7th Street

· 6th Street

· 5th Street

· 4th Street*

· 3rd Street (between Broad and Market already closed due to
construction)

· Aquarium Way

· E 1st Street

Broad Street between W 3rd Street and Aquarium Way will also close for the duration of the parade to allow for dispersing of parade participants.

*4th Street and MLK Blvd east and westbound will remain open across Market Street until the parade begins at 10:30 AM. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed across Market at those locations once the parade begins.

All traffic west of Market Street needing to travel eastbound will detour via Broad Street / HWY 27 to W 12th Street.

All traffic east of Market Street needing to travel westbound will detour via Cherry Street, E 8th Street (to travel briefly EB), and Lindsay Street.

Riverfront Parkway or Main Street are highly recommended as an alternative route to travel east or west of Market Street during the closure.

STAGING AREA

Market Street between W 12th Street/Houston Street and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd will close from 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM (estimated) for parade staging. This includes the full closure of intersections at Market Street and 11th Street, Georgia Ave, and 10th Street. Detours during this time will be via Broad Street. Street parking will be prohibited within this closure.

TRANSPORTATION / PARKING

CARTA’s Downtown Electric Shuttle will operate as normal, however, the shuttle stops between 12th Street and 11th Street (Warehouse Row / Development Resource Center) will not have service between 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM.

All Bike Chattanooga bike-sharing stations will operate as normal and are a great option to travel from nearby parking lots to the parade route.

CARTA and Chattanooga Parking Authority lots are available with the North and South Shuttle Parking Garages being the best options to park and walk to the parade route. Please note that street parking along Market Street, Aquarium Way and sections of Broad Street may be limited or unavailable during the parade. Any vehicles still parked after 10:30 AM, will not be permitted to exit until after the parade.

View map of special event and construction related road closures here.