Rocco the Recycling Retriever Marches in the Holidays at the 2023 Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), led by Rocco the Recycling Retriever, marched in the holiday season at the 2023 Montgomery County Thanksgiving parade  on Saturday, November 18th.

DEP staff and our fantastic recycling volunteers walked alongside Rocco the Recycling Retriever, our recycling mascot. They highlighted ways residents can reduce, reuse and recycle right during the holiday season and every day!

“The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade marks the start of the holiday season in Montgomery County and the broader DMV region,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is a great event that brings the community together for a day of celebration.”

The parade featured more than 100 units, highlighted by high school and college marching bands and drum lines, captivating floats, lively dance troupes, beauty queens, fire trucks and groups showcasing talented dogs and rescue animals. The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by County Executive Elrich, followed by a marching band performance. The parade featured units celebrating harvest and Thanksgiving themes, live performances by cultural dance groups including the Maryland Youth Ballet, Hanukah inflatables and Santa’s festive float playing holiday music as the grand finale.