Olympian Emery Lehman to serve as Grand Marshal for 4th of July Parade
Published on June 25, 2026
Four-time United States Olympian, two-time Olympic medalist and Oak Park native Emery Lehman will serve as Grand Marshal for the Village’s annual Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
The many dimensions of Oak Park will be on display when the parade steps off at 10 a.m. on July 4 from Longfellow Park at Ridgeland Avenue and Adams Street.
Parade participants march north on Ridgeland Avenue to Augusta Street and disperse at Whittier School. The route offers many viewing opportunities along the way.
In addition to this year’s Grand Marshal, Lehman, featured groups include Kaotic Drumline, Jesse White Tumblers, Medinah Shriners Mini Choppers, South Shore Drill Team and New Generation Fancy Drill Team.
Local organizations and businesses are invited to bring a float, march, play music, carry banners, ride bicycles, skate, drive vintage cars or just dress up to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. To register as a participant, please visit www.oak-park.us/parade.
For more information about the Fourth of July parade, contact DEIO@oak-park.us or 708.358.5405.
Lehman was honored by the Village Board on May 19th, when he was presented with a Key to the Village. This new honor is reserved for those who have brought exceptional distinction to Oak Park. Click here to learn more about the recognition.
Lehman, a long track speed skater, represented the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, the 2022 Games in Beijing and the 2026 Games in Milano-Cortina. At just 17 years of age, he became the youngest male member of the U.S. Olympic Team at Sochi in 2014. At the 2022 Beijing Games, he earned a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. men’s team pursuit. Earlier this year, Lehman and his teammates went a step higher and captured a silver medal in the same event at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games.
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Lehman distinguished himself academically. He graduated as an honor student from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 2014, earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering cum laude from Marquette University in 2020 and later completed a master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2023.
About Oak Park - The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.