Fourth Parade, Festivities Bring Back Memories
I was 4 years old the first time I rode on a float in the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade. I felt super important with my birthday candle hat celebrating our nation’s birth, and thought life couldn’t get much better.
Yesterday, I got to take four of my young cousins on the Park Cities People float. This time I was the adult standing in the background behind the cute kids.
After I advised all the kiddos on the float not throw too many hand sanitizers at once, not hurl frisbees at babies or the elderly, to limit the candy eating to one or two pieces, and not to lean over the edge, I asked the kids what the most important thing was.
A chorus of voices answered, “To have fun!” If that wasn’t enough to make my day (year, life, etc…), one boy said, “And to be safe!” I was so proud.
The parade is always one of my favorite parts of the Fourth. I hope my cousins and those other kiddos remember this year with as much fondness as I remember my first ride 19 years ago and with as much joy as I’ll remember this one.
Do you have a favorite memory from yesterday’s festivities? Our photographers caught a few cute moments yesterday. You can check out their photos of the parade, UP Firecracker Fun Run, and post-parade activities at Goar Park here. Don’t forget to check out next week’s issue for more photos, and more memories.
