Religious Freedom Day Parade

On Sunday, January 10, 2027, the public is encouraged to observe a parade departing from the train station and attend a unique ceremony at the Religious Freedom Monument on Washington Avenue. This event is held in commemoration of Religious Freedom Day and is hosted by the Knights of Columbus Rappahannock Assembly #1613, supported by Fredericksburg Commandery No. 1 Knights Templar and the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia.

First established by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for the Study of Religious Freedom during the 1976 U.S. bicentennial and later assumed by the Knights of Columbus the city has come together to commemorate the bill and Jefferson’s role in preserving religious freedom in a ceremony for all faiths at the Religious Freedom Monument on Washington Avenue. The event is attended by more than one hundred participants. The appropriate ceremony includes a parade, the laying of a wreath, an invocation, a benediction and a keynote speech.

Often, the parade is led by the Knights of Columbus, followed by groups such as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lutheran Church and members of the local Masonic lodge. Members of all faiths are invited to carry a banner identifying their affiliation and showing support for religious freedom. The event symbolizes the healthy dialogue and relationships that exist between the city’s different religious groups.