04/15/2026
Three celebrity judges will preside over Baraboo’s Big Top Parade on June 13. Alice in Dairyland Sarah Hagenow, Wisconsin Public Radio host Larry Meiller and WISC-TV anchor Sarah Carlson will help lead the parade before being dropped off at the judges’ stand to select the top entries.
“We’re thrilled to have these renowned celebrities judge our parade,” said Nanci Jenks, chair of the Big Top Parade organizing committee. “With dozens of entries from Circus World wagons to marching bands to community floats, our judges always face a tough task.”
The parade through the streets of Downtown Baraboo will be the centerpiece of a weekend full of circus-themed fun in the Ringling Brothers’ hometown.
Evaluating each entry will be Hagenow, who promotes Wisconsin agribusiness as the 78th Alice in Dairyland; Meiller, who will retire at the end of June after 59 years at WPR; and Carlson, who is in her second stint covering south central Wisconsin at News 3 Now / Channel 3000.
The judges will choose the parade’s top overall entry, as well as the best commercial and nonprofit entries. Upwards of 75 entries are expected to enter the parade, which will step off at 11 a.m. June 13. Always a patriotic spectacle, this year’s parade will be led by local veterans as Grand Marshals and will celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.
“This will be another star-spangled celebration,” said George Althoff, Executive Director of the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce. “We encourage everyone – from parade entries to our celebrity judges to spectators along the parade route – to break out their red, white and blue.”
Watch for updates on the parade and related events at bigtopparade.com.
