In addition to the Fourth of July fireworks we saw last night, we also attended a Fourth of July Parade. The Lone Ranger was there. I’m not exactly sure what the Lone Ranger has to do with Independence, but he was there along with Silver and Tonto.
So was the car from Back to the Future. Again, not sure what it had to do with America and Independence, but okay.
There were guys on the sidewalk selling bottled water for one dollar.
And trash piled up every which way you looked.
Which made me wonder; at what point does a parent tell their child just hang on to their trash until they can find an acceptable trash can? Is walking another block or two with their empty water bottle really that difficult?
There was no candy at this parade, but there was a guy passing out million dollar notes.
And the clothes. This being the first Fourth of July Parade I had been to in 20+ years, I totally missed the memo and forgot to dress up.
Check out this ladies poodle skirt. How cool is that?
Grandmas with red, white and blue bucket hats.
A red and white stripped shirt with a flag scarf as a belt {very clever}.
A tall striped hat. Very nice.
And the classic American Flag top hat. Lincoln would be proud.
How about YOU? How did you spend your Fourth of July? Did you attend a parade? Go to a BBQ? Or did you just light a few sparklers at home instead?
Mavis want to know.
Stacey says
I loved seeing your parade pictures. We elected to stay home yesterday because the nearest “big” town is Kingman, 40 miles away. We needed to get up early today for a work day (that has been delayed several hours, oh well) and decided the drive was too long to get home at a good time. I was nervous when some neighbors set off some firecrackers since we are in Arizona with the wildfires, but we all seem to have made it through the night okay. All in all, it was a great day of making our own choices and being free!
Laura says
We bought some fireworks (legal) and shot them off in the street. We have some more for tonight. We have to use them by the 6th, then they become illegal again!
We can also see some of the higher fireworks the city shoot off from your front yard, so we don’t go anywhere. It’s not a good idea anyway, since our dog gets very panicky at “boom-booms” and can’t really be left alone, even in the house. New Year’s Eve is a bad night for him too.
Your parade looked like great fun!
Diane says
Every Fourth of July for the past few years, we’ve gathered with friends in the little coastal town of Manzanita, Oregon, where an old friend of mine has a vacation home. She hosts a big potluck dinner and most everyone goes down to the beach for the spectacular fireworks in the evening – but before those things happen, a contingent of the crazier adults, along with some of the kids, dress like pirates and walk in the anybody-can-participate Fourth of July parade. This year our pirate crew won Second Prize! The win may have had something to do with our excellent piratical speech, the jogging stroller that one of our members turned into an awesome “pirate ship,” or maybe the judges were just nervous because we were waving our cutlasses around. It was tons of fun, and I can’t wait to see how we outdo ourselves NEXT year.
Helen in Meridian says
I can’t believe you haven’t attended that wonderful parade before. You could have pulled a wagon filled with gnomes and fliers to send you more gnomes. Parades should always have horses. The Lone ranger was wearing blue and red and his horse is white. The Fourth of July is game for everyone to dress as eccentric as possible in red white and blue, as well as eat red white and blue food. I saw on a NW TV show last eve that Gig Harbor was listed as the #1 town in America this year. I had a distant relative whose club rides in the Tournament of Roses parade on New Years Morning. They are required to have at least 10# of real Silver on their saddles, boots, and tack on their horses in order to participate.
Laura says
I agree with Helen, parades should always have horses!
When I was a little girl my family would visit my grandma in Salinas, CA during “Big Week.” “Big Week” is the California Rodeo Salinas. We never went to the rodeo, but always the horse parade. I was no different from any little girl, so I loved horses! The “Big Week” parade always had a lot of palominos, the traditional golden horse of the Golden State!
I just looked it up, and they still call it “Big Week” and the horse parade!
The big parades on television have too many marching bands for my taste. Hardly any floats, balloons, or horses left.
Ellen says
Love the catwalk George Washington!
Lisa Whitehead says
Million dollar notes for free? Fantastic!