Meet Your Celebrate Kirkland 2026 Co-Grand Marshals!
Celebrate Kirkland is thrilled to announce that longtime public servants and former Kirkland business owners Penny Sweet and Larry Springer will lead the 2026 Celebrate Kirkland July 4th Parade as Co-Grand Marshals.
This year, the community comes together to mark the 250th birthday of the United States. The country would not be what it is today without a history of both people building their communities and civic leaders making a difference. The parade honors two people who helped create the very tradition so many residents cherish and who have spent decades strengthening Kirkland through public service, local business ownership, and steadfast love of their community.
Penny and Larry are married, and, as far as local history goes, they are the only couple to have served as Councilmembers and Mayors for the City of Kirkland. They’ve spent their time living in Kirkland being a part of the fabric of building community, making them especially meaningful choices to lead this year’s celebration of America and Celebrate Kirkland’s shared spirit.
Penny and Larry started the Celebrate Kirkland July 4th event in 1999, and Penny has been planning and guiding it for 27 years, turning a simple community idea into a signature Kirkland tradition that brings neighbors, families, and local organizations together in joyful celebration.
After years of community involvement, Larry served as Kirkland councilmember from January 1994 until January 2005, and as mayor from 1999 until 2003. Likewise, Penny served on the council from January 2010 until January 2026 and as mayor from 2019 until 2024.
This Fourth of July, as the parade fills downtown with music, color, and community pride, there could be no more fitting Co-Grand Marshals than the two people who helped start it all and who continue to invest their time, energy, and hearts into the Kirkland community.
Penny Sweet – Former Mayor, Councilmember, and Parade Founder
Penny Sweet has devoted decades of service to Kirkland as a City Councilmember, Mayor, community leader, and founder of the Celebrate Kirkland July 4th parade.
She is widely recognized for her commitment to building a strong, connected city and for championing efforts that support neighborhood engagement, inclusion, community leadership and civic participation.
As Mayor and Councilmember, Penny worked on initiatives that strengthened neighborhoods, supported parks and community spaces, and ensured City services reflected the needs and diversity of Kirkland community members.
Her leadership and vision were foundational in creating what we know today as Totem Lake Village. She had a vision for a more livable and connected community and invested in infrastructure, such as the Totem Lake bridge, that enables greater multimodal access to all of Kirkland. She focused on thoughtful growth, quality public spaces, and accessible local government, helping Kirkland remain a welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors. Her leadership emphasized collaboration with regional partners, community safety, and listening carefully to community voices.
Her passion for community safety and listening to the community led her to chair the Community Safety Advisory Group and Legislative Work Group. The former was a group of 30 community members comprised of representatives from neighborhood associations, service-based organizations, EvergreenHealth Hospital, senior living, higher education, and more, tasked with meeting twice a month for five months to make a recommendation to the Council of what the Fire Department needed most to serve and protect the community successfully. The latter, Penny chaired during her time as Mayor, where she guided Council’s legislative agenda to successful outcomes in behavioral health, gun safety, affordable housing, and securing state funds for important capital projects across all three of Kirkland’s legislative districts.
Penny’s passion for bringing people together shines through her work creating and sustaining the Celebrate Kirkland July 4th parade. For 27 years, she has helped shape and grow Celebrate Kirkland, showcasing local organizations, highlighting the community's diversity, and giving families and neighbors a place to gather every Independence Day. Under her guidance, the parade has become a beloved Kirkland tradition that reflects the city’s pride, character, and sense of belonging.
In addition to her public service, Penny is a former Kirkland business owner and has long supported local organizations, arts, human services, and neighborhood groups, reinforcing her commitment to the City's cultural, social, and economic vibrancy. Her lifelong dedication to community service and her love of Kirkland continue to influence the City’s well-being and quality of life.
Larry Springer – State Representative, Former Mayor, and Community Supporter
Larry Springer has served the Kirkland community as a City Councilmember, Mayor, longtime local business owner, and state legislator in the House of Representatives.
Larry was the first president of the original Kirkland Downtown Association and has served as a board member of the Kirkland Arts Center, the Kirkland Performance Center Founding Board, Leadership Eastside Founding Board, and Hopelink. In each of these roles, he has shown a deep commitment to affordable housing, a thriving business community, engaged neighborhoods, and community events that bring people together.
As a former Mayor and Councilmember, Larry helped guide Kirkland through periods of growth, emphasizing economic vitality, responsive local government, and support for small businesses.
During his 21 years in the State Legislature, Larry has been a true champion for Kirkland. Representing the 45th Legislative District, Larry made it possible for Kirkland to expand its investment in affordable housing, secured funding for safety improvements along the Cross Kirkland Corridor and served as the House Majority Leader for several legislative sessions. Larry is retiring at the end of the year after over two decades of working across the aisle and representing Kirkland at the State level.
As a former Kirkland business owner himself, he understands how important a lively, welcoming downtown and community traditions like the July 4th parade are to the City’s identity and local economy.
From the earliest years of the Celebrate Kirkland July 4th parade, Larry has been a strong supporter of the event and of Penny’s vision for a community-centered celebration. He has championed the parade as a meaningful way to honor the holiday, highlight Kirkland’s diversity, and create a space where residents and visitors can gather, connect, and celebrate together.
Alongside his elected service, Larry’s work in state office has been informed by his experience as a local leader, bringing the perspective of a Kirkland resident and community advocate to broader policy discussions while staying closely connected to the city he calls home.
Celebrating Service, Spirit, and Community
Together, Penny Sweet and Larry Springer represent a shared legacy of leadership, partnership, and dedication to the well-being and quality of life in Kirkland. They helped start and sustain the very parade they will now lead, supported local businesses and public spaces, and championed the community’s diversity and shared spirit.
As Kirkland celebrates Independence Day and the 250th birthday of the United States, honoring Penny and Larry as Co-Grand Marshals is a meaningful way for the community to say thank you for a lifetime of service and for creating a celebration that truly belongs to the people of Kirkland.