Bethany Independence Day Parade to celebrate 35 years July 4
The Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade is reaching a milestone in 2019. Scheduled for Thursday, July 4, the parade will celebrate its 35-year anniversary with its traditional two-mile route beginning at noon through downtown Bethany. George Cole will be grand marshal.
People wishing to enter a float can get creative with the theme by noting a 35-year milestone in their lives, whether it is a 35th birthday or anniversary, or even 35 years of taking trips to Bethany.
The committee encourages businesses, community organizations and families to get in on the fun by entering and competing for a variety of prizes. Recognizing that this is a busy time for merchants, combining to form a joint float with another business will save time and manpower.
Guidelines can be found on the town’s site under Activities, Fourth of July. There is no preregistration. Floats are entered the day of the parade from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the registration desks located at Route 1 and Central Avenue. Bikers may pick up their decorating kits at the table located on the Christian Church grounds. (Bike decorating kits will be distributed while supplies last. Bikers and walkers will not be judged.)
In addition to the floats, bikes and a procession of VIPs, there will be a combination of marching bands and bands on trucks that have become an annual tradition. These bands come from all over and include the 287th Army National Guard Band, 1st Delaware Regiment Fife and Drum Band, 1st State Detachment Marine Corps League, Back Bay Strummers, Delmar District Pipe Band, Downtown Dixieland Band, German Oompah Band on horse-drawn wagon, Honeycombs, Nautical Sounds, Oxford Brass and Tidewater Brass.
A new addition to the parade will be the Pirates Plunder Entertainment Group which was a huge success at the Bethany Beach Poseidon Festival.
This parade would not be possible without the support of community volunteers. The committee especially needs marshals. Marshals prevent gaps in the parade and ensure it runs smoothly. Marshals will help with traffic control and keep the crowd off the parade route, so they do not interfere with the participants. They also help to protect children and bystanders by making sure there is no throwing of candy or other objects from the floats or vehicles. Fines will be assessed for anyone handing these out. To volunteer, contact Bruce Frye at 302-537-5072.
The award ceremony will take place on the Bandstand at 7:15 p.m. Judging will take place before the parade begins.
Jimi Smooth and Hit Time will provide the evening entertainment. They perform at 7:30 before the fireworks.
Official Bethany Beach Parade T-shirts are on sale from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the bandstand concerts leading up to July 4. Other selling dates are from 9 a.m. to noon, the day of the parade. Cost is still $10 for youth and $15 for adult short-sleeve shirts. The theme is unmistakable on the shirt with a big 35 on the back like a team jersey. New this year is the striking Bethany blue color. The adult long-sleeve shirt is back too which is selling quickly and available in limited supply for $25.
Since the success of the parade depends heavily on the availability of police, EMTs, and bands, there is no rain date. For updates, go to www.townofbethanybeach.com, click on Activities, Fourth of July.
