137th Soldiers Reunion Parade – Newton, NC

Catawba County’s historic patriotic event, Soldiers Reunion, is when, for a week, in mid-August, its war veterans are honored through different family-oriented activities. The Soldiers Reunion began on July 4th, 1889, marking this year (2026) the 137 years that the festival has taken place. It is believed to be one of the longest-running patriotic celebrations, not based upon a holiday, in America. The 1889 gathering on the court square led to annual “Soldiers Reunions”, starting the popular patriotic event, then called “Old Soldiers Reunion”; the event then dropped the “old” part of its name, to the now known “Soldiers Reunion”, to better embrace veterans and soldiers of past and present times. Now the celebration continues to offer a variety of events, to honor our veterans and soldiers, that they and the community enjoy, many events of which are still centered around the ever popular 1924 Courthouse Square.

This event attracts tens of thousands of spectators to downtown Newton for a week of honor and remembering local veterans while stimulating the economic growth of the community. For more about the 5 days of events visit http://www.soldiersreunion.org 

Submarine veterans wishing to ride the torpedo float in the parade will meet at was once Western Steer 334 SW Blvd, Newton, NC by 1700..