The League is committed to making the All-America City Award more than a one-time celebration. After being announced during the closing ceremony, the ten 2026 All-America Cities receive ongoing support, their promising practices are featured in the League’s future programming and publications, and our favorite post-event engagement? Bringing the magic of AAC back to the very communities we’re recognizing.
After the confetti falls and the bubbles dissolve in Denver, AAC recipients start dreaming up ways to share their prestigious recognition with the folks back home. Whether it’s a council meeting, a drone show, a neighborhood festival, or a parade, All-America Cities are finding creative ways to show off their shield.
Each year, League staff join celebrations across the country to get an in-person look at the communities we spend so much time reading about and hearing from in short bursts. These visits let us see firsthand, beyond the paperwork and brief jury presentations, what makes our All-America Cities such special places.
2026 Community Celebrations
So far, the League has traveled to seven communities, with an eighth on the calendar for December.
In Norfolk, Virginia, we attended a city council meeting and shared with the council and mayor the reasons behind Norfolk’s designation. Legend has it this was the most tie-dye ever seen in a council chamber, and chants of “Go Norfolk, Go Norfolk, Gooo!” echoed through the halls for days afterward.
In Franklin, Tennessee, we (and 400 of our closest friends) crashed the retirement celebration of Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson during the city’s regular Breakfast with the Mayors community gathering. The local stars who make Franklin such a welcoming place came out in force, swapping stories about their favorite community accomplishments and memories.
The award for most delicious community celebration goes to Morrisville, North Carolina, which paired its award plaque with a side of s’mores. National S’mores Day falls every year on August 10, and for ten years running, Morrisville has marked the occasion by officially renaming itself (by town proclamation, no less) the Town of S’Morrisville for the day. This year’s s’mores were extra sweet (and extra melty in the August heat) as the community gathered to celebrate its All-America City Award for creating a culture of inclusion and belonging.
Harlingen, Texas opted for a standalone All-America City celebration in Lozano Plaza, treating the residents who made it all possible to hot dogs, cookies, snow cones, live music, and a laser tag game! League President Doug Linkhart could be found scoping out the free AAC-themed merch and dancing along to the mariachi band.
Next up was All-America City’s first-ever appearance on a parade float, during Woodburn, Oregon’s Fiesta Mexicana. The annual celebration of Hispanic culture honors local farmworkers at the end of the harvest season, and this year’s edition came complete with a translated telling of the community’s AAC journey, a lively parade, dancing, wrestling, and plenty of elote. We came away with a real sense of what makes this community tick. Disclaimer: Our lawyers asked us to note that League staff are not liable for injuries resulting from our enthusiastic candy-tossing technique.
2026 Fiesta Mexicana Highlight Video
The streets were alive during Montgomery, Alabama’s AAC Block Party. Between dancing on the steps of City Hall, live music, food, and games, the sense of community was impossible to miss. Residents of all ages came together to celebrate what makes Montgomery an All-America City.
Chelsea, Massachusetts went all out on September 12, folding its AAC celebration into Chelsea Day, a full-blown, street fair-to-fireworks affair. The festivities kicked off with a block party stretching along several city blocks. Food trucks, a beer garden, and live music kept the crowd moving. The day also came with a dose of history: Jonathan Lane, executive director of Revolution 250, joined City Manager Fidel Maltez and Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll to officially present the city with a commemorative replica of the Declaration of Independence. Fitting for a city that now holds four All-America City designations! And because no Chelsea Day is complete without a grand finale, the night ended with fireworks lighting up the sky over Mary O’Malley State Park.
Last but certainly not least, we’ll close out the year in North Charleston, South Carolina, where we’ll join the city’s Christmas Parade on December 5. We’re already practicing our wave and stretching our candy-tossing arm.
Until Next Year
Every one of these celebrations looked different, from tie-dye to s’mores to fireworks, but they all had something in common: residents gathering to celebrate the neighbors, partners, and leaders who make their community a great place to live. That’s what the All-America City Award is really about, and it’s why we’ll never turn down an invitation to join the party.
To our 2026 All-America Cities: thank you for welcoming us so warmly, feeding us so generously, and letting us dance, wave, and toss candy alongside you. To the communities dreaming of a shield of their own: we can’t wait to celebrate with you next. Learn more about next year’s theme here.
