The 55th Annual Arrows to Aerospace Celebration begins this week and culminates with the annual parade and a variety of family activities at Washington Park on Saturday. Once again, the Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club is organizing the celebration. The club has coordinated the Arrows to Aerospace parade and celebration for the past 38 years.
The parade begins this Saturday, August 15, at 10 a.m. The route starts near St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School at the top of Mission Avenue and travels down Mission to Washington Park, taking a left at the intersection of Franklin and Mission.
There are currently 86 entries registered for the 2026 parade, although Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club President and Parade Chair Karen Mier said additional entries are still expected this week. A complete listing of confirmed parade participants can be found at the end of this article.
Several new participants are joining the parade this year, including Bellevue Animal Hospital, BPS Foundation Kids’ Time, Glazed N Raised, and What the Craft? Mr. B’s Photography is also returning to the parade after being away for a few years and is known for bringing a great float to the annual celebration.
Arrows to Aerospace has traditionally been one of the best-attended events in the Bellevue community. In previous years, Mier has said the parade averages around 8,000 spectators, with attendance varying somewhat from year to year.
Parade entrants will compete in several categories, including Best in Community, Best Overall, Best in Business, Best in Church, and Best Performance. Last year’s winners included First Presbyterian Church (Best in Church), Cub Scout Pack 464 (Best in Community), Madness Haunted House (Best in Business), Bellevue West Thunderettes (Best Performance), and BJSA (Best Overall).
The 2026 judges panel includes Maureen McNamara, a retired teacher, principal and administrator who currently serves as Bellevue Public Schools Board of Education president. McNamara has provided more than 40 years of education service to the Bellevue and Offutt community. Rebecca Zurcher of Erwin’s Jewelers will also serve as a judge.
The third member of the panel is expected to represent Offutt Air Force Base. Col. Aaron Gray, 55th Wing Vice Commander, or Col. Chad Backes, 55th Wing Deputy Commander, is expected to fill that position.
Suzanne Quinn, founder of Bellevue Together, has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 Arrows to Aerospace Parade.
Quinn was selected in recognition of her work on behalf of children and families throughout the Bellevue community. Through Bellevue Together, Quinn and the organization’s volunteers provide much-needed school supplies and clothing to children in the Bellevue Public Schools district.
Quinn and Bellevue Together volunteers organize donation drives and work with local schools to help make sure children have the clothing and supplies they need. Her continued dedication to those efforts and the Bellevue community led to her selection as this year’s Grand Marshal.
A variety of other activities are planned as part of this year’s Arrows to Aerospace Celebration, with events taking place throughout the day Saturday at Washington Park. More information can be found here: https://bokiwanis.org/arrows-to-aerospace
Alphabetical List of Confirmed Parade Entries
- Achieve
- All American Towing
- All Seasons Church & Foundation
- American National Bank, a Division of Associated Bank
- Apollo Heating & Air
- Bellevue Alumni Association
- Bellevue Alumni Band
- Bellevue Animal Hospital
- Bellevue East AFJROTC
- Bellevue East Bellevedettes Dance Team
- Bellevue East Cheerleading
- Bellevue East Chieftain Marching Band
- Bellevue Fire Dept.
- Bellevue Food Pantry
- Bellevue Junior Sports
- Bellevue Lions Club
- Bellevue Little Theatre
- Bellevue Masonic Lodge
- Bellevue Police Dept.
- Bellevue Public Schools – Anchored 4 Life Program
- Bellevue Public Schools Foundation Kids’ Time
- Bellevue Public Schools Transportation
- Bellevue Royal Rangers
- Bellevue Swim Club
- Bellevue University Military Veteran Services Center
- Bellevue West Air Force JROTC
- Bellevue West Cheer Team
- Bellevue West Marching Band
- Bellevue West Thunderettes
- Bellevue Woman’s Club
- Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club
- Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands
- BPS Foundation Kids’ Time
- Centris Federal Credit Union
- Cherish Riding Association
- Christ the King Lutheran Church
- Church of the Holy Spirit
- Cobalt Credit Union
- Congressman Mike Flood
- Dino’s Storage
- Disabled American Veterans – William V. Brooks Chapter 47
- Eagle Hollow Scream Park
- First Interstate Bank
- First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue
- Freedom Cruisers Riding Club
- Gifford Farm ESU #3
- Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
- Glazed N Raised
- Goodwill Specialty Services, Inc. (GSSI)
- Grand Marshal – Suzanne Quinn, Bellevue Together
- Green Bellevue
- Heritage Ridge
- Hike Real Estate and NISR for Hike Real Estate
- Holdcroft for Legislature
- Home Instead
- I Like Hike for Mayor
- Julie Collins – Bellevue City Council Ward 4
- Knights of Columbus
- Lemm’s Quality Construction
- Little Sunflowers Daycare
- Longo Dietz Orthodontics
- Madness Haunted House
- Marine Corps League – Miguel Keith Detachment 609
- Marine Corps League – Miguel Keith Detachment 609 (COLOR GUARD)
- Midlands Bible Baptist Church
- Mr. B’s Photography
- Omaha Lancers
- PenFed Credit Union
- Pflager for Mayor
- Richmont Senior Living
- Santa Lucia Festival
- Sarpy County Democratic Party
- Scouting America
- Sierra Club EV Team
- Skate City Bellevue
- Sokol South Omaha Gymnastics
- St. James United Methodist Church
- St. Mary’s Cub Scout Pack 305 and Boy Scout Troop 305
- Star Realty, Inc.
- Sustainable Heating and Air
- Teamwork Sports
- The Foster Kitten Project
- Troop 483 B&G / Scouting America
- Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 279 of Omaha
- Visiting Angels
- What the Craft?
| Photos Courtesy of Phil Davidson |
