A color guard kicks off the 2012 July 4th Parade in Brandon. Kevin Brady File Photo
By KEVIN BRADY
The streets and skies of Brandon will run red, white and blue July 4th when more than 50,000 people turn out for one of the largest Independence Day parades in the state and a huge fireworks show at the Westfield Brandon mall.
Riverview’s Marie Cain has been overseeing the parade for the last three years.
“It started as a family and community parade (in the 1950s) and it still is. It’s become a tradition for many local families,” Cain said.
Work on the parade, which is policed by 100 deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and 50 volunteers, starts long before the first unit kicks off.
“We have been working on this one for 15 months and I already have started working on the 2014 parade,” said Cain, parade chairperson.
The work is all worth it on the big day though, she said.
“Just to see the expressions on children’s faces when they are at the parade makes it all worthwhile,” Cain said.
Olympic diver Chris Colwill is this year’s grand marshal. Colwill, who trained at Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center through his high school years at Tampa Preparatory School, competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Lumsden Road and Parsons Avenue, advancing along Parsons before turning west on Robertson Street with a final leg across Kings Avenue. Typically, the parade takes about two hours.
Would-be parade watchers take note, many prime spots are staked out as early as 7 a.m. along shaded sections of Parsons with parade watchers setting up barbecues and tents along the route early.
The parade is organized by the Community Roundtable of Brandon, an umbrella organization for area charities.
“It’s a great event because people who went to the parade with their parents or grandparents now go with their own children,” said Janine Nickerson, vice president of the Roundtable. “It has become a generational thing for people.”
Nickerson also has some tips for parade goers. “Definitely bring along some sun block and drinks.” Vendors will also be selling drinks and snow cones along the route.
“We had some food vendors last year but we found that when people come to a parade they tend to sit and stay put,” Nickerson said.
Brandon’s honorary mayor also takes pride of place in the parade. The winner is declared on the morning of the parade when each candidate hands in their fundraising total. The candidate who raises the most for their designated charity is declared the winner and rides in style in a convertible in the parade.
With four candidates running for the honorary title, the biggest field of candidates in more than 10 years is battling for the title this year.
The four candidates for mayor this year are Jack Bartlett, running on behalf of the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center and A Kid’s Place; Pearl Chiarenza, running for the GFWC Brandon Service League and the Sylvia Thomas Center for Foster and Adoptive Families; Dawn Smith-Galia, running for Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association; and Grita Perry, running on behalf of the Brandon Family YMCA.
All the funds raised are distributed among local charities through the Community Roundtable. The contest started in 1959.
The real winners of the race are those in need, Nickerson said.
“I think it could be a bumper year with four candidates running. I know they will raise a lot for local charities.”
Drivers take note, east- and westbound traffic along Lumsden Road, between Kings and Parsons avenues, will be shut down from 7:30 a.m. until the parade’s conclusion, to allow for the parade’s staging. The parade typically runs for about two hours.
Water squirt guns are banned from the parade this year for participants and parade watchers on the recommendation of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
For those looking to celebrate after the parade, the Brandon Blast is set for 5 to 9 p.m. at the Westfield Brandon shopping mall, with live music, food, fireworks and family events, including a bounce house, face painting, magic shows and a video-game theater.
There is also a chance to win a $1,000 Westfield Brandon shopping spree.
