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Neighborhood Fourth of July Parade

Annette Palmer's photo
Ohio Country Living Examiner

Living in the country leaves many folks far from the big entertainment that frequents city life. Our neighborhood gets together and celebrates 4th of July with our very own kiddie parade.  One parent is in charge of it being at their house each year and the hostess (usually a mother) supplies the awesome ribbons and awards to make it an official mini-grand parade. 

Create an Entry

Everyone dresses up and decorates a bicycle float or wagon in patriotic style and there is an open category for the children who want to do their own thing.  At high noon children of all ages, the little ones accompanied by parents, steps off the grass and marches down the sidewalk.  Whether it’s 5 or 25 people, it makes for a great parade, we often invite kids outside the neighborhood who are visiting with family, our local youth group or school friends.

Keep It Simple
The hostess should keep things simple and fun.  Tell folks to wear patriotic colors, red, white and blue and meet at a specific corner of the street where decorated bikes, scooters, wagons with or without patriotic dressed pets.  The hostess can decide on a theme for each year such as:  “American Heroes”, “Let Freedom Ring”, “Red, White and Boom”, or any other patriotic theme.  If you would like to change it up every other year and do a non-traditional patriotic theme you might choose anything from “Hollywood”, “Storybook Character” or “Around the World Theme”.

Vote for a Parade Marshal

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Choose a parade marshal who will lead the munchkins around the block or down the street.  A parade marshal elected by majority vote of the neighbors at a meeting before the parade. It might be a soldier, town councilman or mayor, a special grandparent or a child who just recovered from surgery or an illness that needs uplifted. 

Let Kids Be Creative

Decorate floats, scooters and bicycles with crepe paper, colored straws, tape, or do-it-yourself glitter posters.  One thing is for sure children are creative and can figure out their designs on their own.  All parents need to do is supply miniature to large-size American flags to add to their entry.

Fun and Games

For added fun, meet at a local park for kids afternoon in the park playing games like water-balloon toss, sack races, flip-flop fling, watermelon seed spitting, watermelon eating and bubblegum blowing contests.  How big can you blow a bubble?  Include treats or little ribbons for all participants. 

Picnic in the Park

Families can bring picnic baskets and have a picnic in the park and enjoy hot dogs, burgers, roasted corn on the cob, salad, baked beans, patriotic snacks, ice cream and apple pie.  This is a great frugal way to enjoy the holidays with your neighbors, families and friends.  Who knows you might like this Independence Day event so well it may become a community tradition.

 
Places to purchase patriotic supplies:
  1. Party City Tel:(513) 752-6166  4394 Eastgate Square Dr, #1600, Cincinnati, OH
     
  2. A One Amusement & Party Store: Tel: (513) 286-2489 17 Sunnybrook Dr, Cincinnati, OH
     
  3. Ace Toys & Festival Tel: (513) 245-2237 8611 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH
     
4th of July
4th of July
Photo credit: 
Open Source - Unknown
20th Neighborhood Parade

Video: Parade

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, Ohio Country Living Examiner

Annette Palmer’s passion is to inspire country living through life experiences and brings a unique perspective to her writing through family life in southern Ohio. Annette writes on a variety of topics including cooking, gardening, motherhood, and many other interests. Rural life may seem too...

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