Fourth of July Parade on Saturday to Have 50 Entries Including Six Queens

Jake and Virginia Hutter are King and Queen, Danny Vann is Parade Marshal

June 27, 2004
By: Dave Rogers

      Another Bay City tradition, the Fourth of July Parade, steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 3 from 11th and Washington.

      The 45-minute promenade will follow the route north on Washington to Center then turn towards Wenonah Park for theconclusion of its brief sashay.


      Besides King and Queen Jake and Virginia Hutter, this year's parade will feature six queens from local and area festivals:      

Miss Auburn;

      

Linwood Pickle Festival Queen;

      

St. Patrick's Day Parade Queen;

      

Arenac County Queen;

      

Munger Potato Festival Queen; and

      

Queen of the Alma Highland Festival;

      The Fourth of July Parade started in 1980 so it's got a long way to go to catch up to St. Patrick's Day that started in 1956, but the Independence Day event appears well established, according to parade historians Irv and Rose McEachern.

      There won't be anybands since it's summer and the band uniforms are put away, but there will be lots of recorded music, according to Rose. The John Glenn High pom pom squad will march, however, and one entry will have a small band aboard its float.

      Dr. Harry Farris, retired veterinarian, will ride in his 1929 restored Model T Ford.

      A float to watch will be the Water World, with a Ferris Wheel aboard, invented by John Emery of Bay City.

      Irv is president of the Fourth of July Parade Association, Rose is vice-president, Jan Rau is secretary and Betty Oswald is treasurer.

      The group will have a drawing July 3 for a Kewadin Casino package and a backyard greenhouse.###