Corporal Don Graves, a World War Two veteran that served in the Marines, gives a thumbs up to attendees at the 69th annual Austin Veterans Day Parade on Monday, Nov. 11 in Downtown Austin, Texas.
Austin's Veterans Day Parade will affect roads throughout downtown Austin Tuesday. Here's what you need to know:
When will roads be closed?
The city’s official map shows these windows: closures begin as early as 5 a.m. and run through 1 p.m. for certain segments, with the parade itself scheduled 9 to 11 a.m.
- Congress Avenue (West Riverside Drive to Cesar Chavez Street): 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Barton Springs Road (from South Congress Ave to a partial block): 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- South Congress Avenue (Cesar Chavez Street to 11th Street): 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 11th Street (Lavaca Street to San Jacinto Boulevard): 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Second, Third and Fourth Street and Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and 10th Street (Colorado Street to Brazos Street): Local access only, 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Fifth and Sixth Street (Colorado Street to Brazos Street): Local access only, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Cesar Chavez Street eastbound lanes (Lavaca Street to Colorado Street): 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Other roads around downtown
Drivers moving north or south through the central city may prefer using MoPac (Loop 1) or I-35 instead of Congress Avenue while these closures are in place. To cross Lady Bird Lake, the South First Street and Lamar Boulevard bridges remain outside the parade route shown on the city map. For east–west travel, using streets that sit outside the posted closure boxes, such as MLK Boulevard and sections of Riverside Drive, can help avoid the Congress Avenue corridor while the event is underway.
Parking and transit
The city lists several downtown garages and transportation resources for parade day, including City Hall Garage, Austin Convention Center garages, One Texas Center, Palmer Events Center, and general downtown paid parking information. CapMetro provides service alerts for routes that normally travel on Congress Avenue or 11th Street. Check the city’s event page and CapMetro before you go for the latest parking and transit details.
Parade schedule
The parade is scheduled 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A Veterans Resource Event opens at 10:00 a.m. on the Capitol grounds, and the city’s ceremony begins at 11:11 a.m. on the south steps of the Texas Capitol. About the parade The Austin Veterans Day Parade is organized by the Military Veterans Empowerment Network with local partners. The route follows Congress Avenue from the bridge to the Capitol, where viewing and ceremonies take place.