MLT Chamber of Commerce invites community to name the City’s parade

The Mountlake Terrace Chamber of Commerce is inviting community members to help shape the future of a city parade by participating in a name and interest survey.

While the annual Tour de Terrace will not return, organizers plan to continue the parade tradition and are seeking public input as planning begins.

The survey allows participants to vote on potential parade names or suggest their own, as well as indicate interest in being involved in future events. Organizers said the survey is intended to gather ideas and gauge community interest and is not a formal sign-up.

Responses will help guide planning efforts, with additional details to be shared as they become available.

“The parade has always been a meaningful part of the former Tour de Terrace. Even though that event is no longer happening, the parade clearly still holds a special place in people’s hearts,” Mountlake Terrace Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Aireal King said. “Mountlake Terrace is a relatively small community, so hosting an event as large and well-loved as Tour de Terrace for so many years is pretty special. There’s a lot of nostalgia tied to it, but also just a genuine love for the tradition itself.”

King said this is the Chamber’s first time organizing the parade and are approaching it with a “keep what works” mindset.

“Our goal is to preserve the heart of the event while ensuring the community can still enjoy it,” she said. “Ultimately, this is about keeping a beloved tradition alive. We’re excited, we’re doing our best, and we hope the community comes out to enjoy it with us because that’s really what makes it special.”

The first Tour de Terrace parade was held in 1993, organized by a group of community volunteers that included Judi and her late husband and former MLT mayor and councilmember Jerry Smith. In 1994, the Smiths took the event to another level in partnership with Seafair and a small group of volunteers to celebrate the city’s 40th anniversary of incorporation.

To grow the event, the Smiths bought large tents and added food and craft booths, mini golf and music, hosting it over a full weekend. Over the years, a classic car show, beer garden, fireworks show and pancake breakfast became part of the tradition.

“At the end of the day, I think people miss that feeling of coming together, and the parade is a fun, familiar way to bring a little bit of that back,” King said.

Community members can participate in the survey online.