Nothing says Fourth of July quite like a patriotic holiday parade. If you are hitting the highway to enjoy a family vacation this weekend you might consider stopping in one of the following cities to take in the sights and sounds of some of our nation’s most festive Independence Day parades. Grab the kids, a few lawn chairs and your miniature-sized flags and watch as Old Glory marches down Main Street.
WISCONSIN—-Racine Fourth Fest Parade
It’s billed as the largest Fourth of July parade in the Midwest and it takes place in tiny Racine, Wisconsin, which is nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago. The 71-year-old parade began as a collaborative effort between corporations and labor unions to set aside “one day of peace” between workers and management. In the decades since, the extremely family-friendly parade has exploded to include nearly 200 units from clowns and jugglers to floats, bands, fire trucks, antique cars, and dignitaries.
MISSOURI—-St. Louis Veiled Prophet Parade
The “Gateway City” is home to an Independence Day parade that was inspired by the book Lalla Rookh by Irish poet Thomas Moore. The Veiled Prophet Parade is celebrating its 131st birthday this year and organizers say that, despite the recent Midwest floods, the parade will go on as planned. The procession is a major event in St. Louis and canceling it was out of the question, according to city leaders. If you are in town on the 4th you can look forward to seeing elaborate floats, giant balloons, bands, military units and local sports celebrities marching down city streets.
TENNESSEE–Gatlinburg Midnight Independence Day Parade
The truly patriotic among us will be lining the streets of Gatlinburg in the dark of night so they can be among the first to celebrate Independence Day. Gatlinburg’s annual parade kicks off at precisely 12 a.m. on July 4th. It is brightly lit and causes quite a spectacle as it weaves its way downtown in the dark of night. The idea for the parade came in 1976 when organizers were trying to come up with a unique way to commemorate America’s bicentennial. The midnight parade was such a hit that the timing of the parade has not changed since. The event draws an estimated 100,000 spectators to Gatlinburg, gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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