As America turns another year older, The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department and Downtown Bloomington Inc. will continue their tradition of the annual Fourth of July Parade.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the corner of Seventh Street and Indiana Avenue.
“The parade continues down Walnut Street, Eighth Street, College Avenue and Kirkwood ?Avenue,” Community Events ?Coordinator Bill Ream said.
“The parade finishes at the Sample Gates at IU.”
The parade has many entries including athletes, politicians, ?local businesses and community groups.
“This year we will have 100 entries in the parade,” Downtown Bloomington Inc. executive director Talisha Coppock said.
Parades often bring out many people from the community who are excited to see what floats will be featured.
This year’s theme is “Explore Bloomington,” and some of Bloomington’s more colorful groups are making recurring appearances.
The City of Bloomington has featured three groups in the parade for several years, Cardinal Stage, The Hudsucker Posse and South Indiana Pipes and Drums, Ream said.
This will be The Hudsucker Posse’s fifth year marching, Hudsucker Posse founder Paula Chambers said.
The Hudsucker Posse is excited that old and new members will be participating.
“This year we are proud to have dozens of seasoned hoop ?dancers young and old as well as many new members eager to ?participate in the ?annual tradition of fun fitness and flow arts celebration,” ?Chambers said.
The Hudsucker Posse is not the only familiar group bringing ?excitement to the parade.
South Indiana Pipes and Drums is also excited about marching in the parade.
“We are a bagpipe band, so pipers and drummers,” South Indiana Pipes and Drums Director Kevin Konetzka said. “We have members’ ages 14 years to over 60 years old participating. I believe the Scottish Society of Greater Bloomington will also be marching with us.’’
These are just three of the ?hundred participating in the ?parade.
“This year’s parade will also be featuring the Roller Derby Girls, members of the military and ?political candidates to name a few,” Ream said.
Participating in the parade is about bringing support to the Bloomington community, ?Chambers said.
“The parade is a yearly ?opportunity for our members to come out and show their love of ?hooping and each other in our lovely hoop supporting community of ?Bloomington,” he said.
To many, the parade is just a time to come together and ?celebrate.
“The parade is patriotic, but it also brings out many in the ?community to celebrate the ?holiday and the city,” Coppock said.
