By Kathy Collins
The Annual Brandon Fourth of July Parade presented by The Community Roundtable will be held on Monday, July 4 beginning at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is Celebrate America.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. and the route will begin at Lumsden and Parsons. The route will continue north on Parsons, stop at the reviewing stand located in front of Nature’s Health Foods at Parsons and Oakfield, continue west on Robertson, and end in the Publix parking lot at Buckingham Place.
Marie Cain, long time Parade Chair, said, “The Community Roundtable has been presenting the Annual Fourth of July Parade for well over 50 years. I am told that it is the largest parade in the state of Florida.” When asked why she is the chair, Cain said, “As a great grandmother of six, I love to see the smiles and excitement on the kids’ faces. That is what brings joy to me.”
The Fourth of July Parade is a sight to behold. The community begins lining up early on the fourth to catch a glimpse of floats, marching bands, dancers and more. Included in the line-up this year will be the 2016 Honorary Mayor who will be announced that morning and the winner of the Community Roundtable’s Father of the Year. You can also see Kavita Maraballi, the winner of the Alice B. Tompkins Award (an award given to someone who epitomizes service to the community) and the winner of the Maureen Krzanowski Scholarship, Dahiany Zayas-Toro, a member of the Bloomingdale High School class of 2016. All of the winners and recipients will ride in decorated convertibles.
Attendees will also see the 2016 Non-Profit of the Year, the Greater Brandon Area Meals On Wheels, on the Community Roundtable’s float. Their volunteers will be celebrated for the great work they do in the community.
The Parade Committee is looking for sponsors and volunteers. Students in need of community service hours can have fun and help the community by volunteering for set up and clean up. “Students can get up to six to seven hours by volunteering their time to help make this year’s Fourth of July Parade the best ever,” said Cain.
For more information on the 2016 Fourth of July Parade, contact The Community Roundtable at 661-4350, email roundtable2008@aol.com or visit www.thecommunityroundtable.org.
