Everyone Loves A Parade
Horsemen, Floats, Cheer Squads on Tap for July 4
By Justin Bresler, 4th of July Parade Organizer
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Park Hill wasn’t recently voted Denver’s best neighborhood because it has its very own 4th of July Parade. But thanks to its rankings for other criteria – such as high education rate, neighborhood safety, access to quality public schools and amenities like libraries, parks and pools – the ‘hood continues to be a top choice for Denver families … especially on Independence Day.
This year, we are proud to again host the biggest (and most laid-back) neighborhood Independence Day parade in metro Denver. Last year, a crowd of 5,500-plus donned their red, white and blue duds to cheer on more than 700 marchers, riders and strollers. Historically, the parade has been only part spectator sport, as the watchers’ outfits tend to be every bit as patriotic as the marchers’ garb.
So what can visitors expect? In addition to the requisite pom squads and scout troops, you might find the League of Women Voters marching alongside a group of board-breaking Tae Kwon Do students. Or chrome-gilded low riders bumping along behind Western rough riders on horseback. Or even a squadron of olive-drab military vehicles, with a gilded Krishna temple cruising along in its wake.
In a neighborhood known for both tradition and diversity, it can be hard to predict exactly what might meander down the parade route along 23rd Avenue from Dexter Street to Krameria Street.
The 8th annual parade will be attended by a number of additional elected city and state officials, color guards, scout troops, neighborhood groups, classic cars, costumed characters and other grassroots organizations. The Wild West Ranch joins the parade for the first time this year, with a host of Western pleasure riders astride their noble steeds.
The Denver Zoo will be back, this time with an actual dinosaur in tow, and the Denver Fire Department will return in its signature white engines. A New Orleans-style brass band will help keep the beat for dozens of entries, hundreds of marchers and thousands of parade watchers.
The parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, and culminates at about 3 p.m. with a street fair on the 2200 business block of Kearney — offering up sweet treats from Cake Crumbs Bakery, savory snacks from Oblio’s Pizza, live music and more. Visitors are encouraged to set up blankets, chairs, umbrellas and coolers anywhere along the route. Volunteers, kindly contact Parade organizers at parkhillparade@gmail.com. Additional details can be found at www.parkhillparade.org.
The parade is a Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. event and could not happen without the generous support of its sponsors.
Title sponsors: Clair Family Dentistry and Cake Crumbs Bakery. Premier Sponsors: Tables Restaurants, Dee Ciancio Realty, the Hills Church, Oblio’s Pizza, Spinelli’s Market and Coffee Shop, Dardano’s School of Gymnastics and Friends for Chris Herndon.
Sponsors: Dental 911, Hakala Family Dentistry, Grape Expectations, Twinkle Together/Music Together, the Tai Chi Project/Living Younger Institute, Park Hill Dance Academy, Denver Public Library Park Hill Branch, Denver Water, 303 Artway/Urban Land Institute, Summer Snow Colorado Shaved Ice, Travelers Protective Association, Three Week Kitchens, Masek Golf Carts and Westword.