34th Annual Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival
Andrew Shannon’s Southeast Community Day, Building a Stronger Community, takes place in Newport News, Virginia.
The parade will feature the Hampton University Marching Force Band and their band director, Dr. Thomas Jones.
The parade begins, rain or shine, on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 10 a.m. on the 3700 block of Chestnut Avenue in Newport News, VA. Line-up starts at 9 a.m. near Booker T. Washington Middle School.
The parade viewing stand is located at 2016 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA. Streets will begin being blocked off around 9 a.m. Parking is free and offered on a first-come first-served basis in the Zion Baptist Church parking lot at 633 20th St.
Immediately following the parade’s end at noon, the Andrew Shannon Gospel Music Celebration will begin at the Zion Baptist Church Grounds, 2016 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA.
This year the festival is presented by For The People MOS, Inc. in partnership with the city of Newport News, VA. The Southeast Community Day Parade, founded by Andrew Shannon in 1991, is the largest parade in the city. This year’s theme is “Building A Stronger Community,”
The celebration will kick off with a Presidential Reception on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 6 p.m. in the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center Banquet Room, 2400 Wickham Avenue, Newport News, VA. Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased at andrewshannonfeeding5000.com/donate.
Investigative journalist, documentarian, activist, and filmmaker Keith A. Beauchamp will serve as keynote speaker and Grand Marshal for the parade. Beauchamp will host a screening of his movie Till on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. There will also be a book signing by local author Gisele Peake Russell during the reception.
The festival, featuring food, fun, music, and vendors, takes place on Saturday, September 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Zion Baptist Church grounds, 2016 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA.
The Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival is free and open to the public. For more information please visit www.southeastdayparade.com.
Video from the 2023 Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival held in Newport News, Virginia.
