By JoAnn Laird | Pagosa Springs Rotary Club
The Fourth of July Parade will be held Monday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Applications, maps and general information are now available at Town Hall or at www.pagosasprings.co.gov.
You can hand-deliver your application to Town Hall or download, scan and email back. The deadline is July 1 at noon and entries will not be accepted after this deadline. So, all of you thinking about being in the greatest little mountain town parade ever better get on it.
Judging will be in four categories. Those categories are appearance, patriotism, creativity and judges’ choice. Think professional Rose Bowl Parade; red, white and blue; wacky; or fun. The reviewing stand will be at 3rd Street and U.S. 160, at the crosswalk. Get ready, out-of-town viewers — wait until you see what Pagosans can do in a parade.
As in years past, no items or candy are to be thrown from the entries. A candy bar hitting a baby’s eye is no laughing matter. Those walking alongside the entry may hand out items. In the past, that has meant everything from dental floss to carrots. You can do this in a small town. Seriously, the Pagosa Springs Police Department enforces this for safety reasons, as it wants to ensure a good time for all.
Because of the continuing McCabe Creek/6th Street construction, the parade route has a change this year. The staging area will on the vacant parcel to the south of Bank of the San Juans on Hot Springs Boulevard. This will also be the area for checking in at the registration desk and the start and end of the parade.
The parade will proceed north to the stop light, make a right onto Pagosa Street/U.S. 160, right onto 2nd Street, right onto Hermosa and make a left onto Hot Springs Boulevard to go back to the staging area.
Separate waivers will be required from all participants and are included with the application. These forms must be signed along with proof of insurance and a copy of your driver’s license for any entry that is a street-legal vehicle. It is important to note there will be no parking along the entire parade route. Reservoir Hill and Mary Fisher parking will not be available, but parking at Town Hall will be.
The Fourth of July Parade happens once a year. It’s a happening. Be in it or at it. For further information, contact Town Hall at (970) 264.4151, ext. 238.
