Legion steps up to revive Port’s Fourth of July parade

The Van-Ells Schanen American Legion Post 82 in Port Washington is working to revive a longstanding tradition in the city — the Independence Day parade and community picnic.

“We haven’t had a parade and a community event in years so the Legion decided to do that,” Legion member Jim Johnson, who is heading the Fourth of July committee, said.

“It should be fun. It may be smaller than people remember, but this is our first year. Next year, we want it to be bigger.”

The theme for the event is Old-Time Family Fourth.

The Fourth of July festivities will get a start early this year, with the city’s fireworks show shooting off from Coal Dock Park at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3.

The park will be closed beginning at noon so the show can be set up.

Dan Benning, a Port alderman who works for J&M Displays, a fireworks company based in Iowa, said the change in date was made because the company doesn’t have the workers available to hold the show on July 4,

“I’d love to say we can do it but I can’t get enough people,” he said.

On Friday, July 4, events will begin at 10 a.m. with the return of the city’s Independence Day parade, which will step off from the corner of Main and Wisconsin streets, head south to Grand Avenue, east to Franklin Street, north to Jackson Street and west to Lake Street, then head to Veterans Memorial Park.

The parade will include the Legion Riders, Legion honor guard, Boy and Girl Scouts, the Legion baseball teams, police and fire departments and area children riding their decorated bicycles.

Decorating kits are available at Port Washington State Bank and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

A short ceremony will be held at the park followed by judging of the decorated bikes.

“That’s such a tradition,” Johnson said.  “I grew up with that.”

The bikes will be judged in age groups — 2 and younger, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 12 and 13 to 15.

There will also be best-in-show awards for decorated bikes, tricycles, strollers and wagons, as well as a special award for decorated walker, wheelchair or mobility scooter, Johnson said.

“People want to be kids at heart,” he said.

There will be free ice cream and soda for the bike contest participants, and hot dogs, brats, soda and adults beverages will be available for purchase at the Legion Hall.

Singer Windy Hope will perform from noon to 2 p.m. at the bandshell in the park.

There will also be arts and crafts, temporary tattoos and face painting starting about noon.

A pet costume contest will be held at the Legion Hall, with small animals judged from noon to 12:30 p.m. and cats in carriers from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Dogs and small four-legged pets will be judged about 1 p.m.

The costumed animals will then parade through downtown, stopping at Eclectic Avenue, where a photo booth will be set up. Members of the public can vote for their favorite costumed animal at Fork and Tap, Cavalier Wine Bar and at the Legion Hall.