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Posted on Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 2:25 p.m.
Images from Ann Arbor's 20th Annual Fourth of July Parade
By Melanie Maxwell
Comments
Dan Romanchik
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
I, too, would like to thank the Jaycees. This kind of thing is a lot of work, I think they do a great job. It's a lot of fun, and besides, if you're in town on the Fourth, what else do you have to do in the morning? I'd also like to thank Melanie personally for the nice photo of me. She actually made me look half-decent. :) I'm a member of ARROW, the amateur radio club that helps out the Jaycees by providing communications for the event. Fortunately, this year, there were no major problems to report, but we were ready, if needed. 73,
Rizzle
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.
I've been to quite a few of the Ann Arbor parades and I think that it's a great way to spend an hour downtown with neighbors and friends. It's true that the bands usually do cost money to bring to the parade, but I also have heard that Pioneer and Huron bands usually turn the parade organizers down when asked to participate. Yes, there are often lots of politicians and political groups, but I did not see any overly aggressive behavior from any group. Everyone seemed on good behavior and was just doing "their job". But mostly there were fun, interesting and creative groups. Ring of Steel, The Fife and Drum Band, the Skyline High Band, the Jaycees had a couple great looking floats, classic cars like a '67 Mustang convertible, Kiwanis thrift sale, A2ad Train (commercial entries can be fun too!), Cub Scouts, the Navy truck, the Twirlettes, Miss Washtenaw, the Superheroes and friends, the Ukulele Club Band, the olde tyme bikes, and more.
Ponycar
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 12:22 a.m.
One thing I think people should know. Every band (including Skyline), and some other participants in the parade, are paid to be there. The limiting factor on musical groups is expense! If more money could be raised, more and bigger musical groups could be included.
5c0++ H4d13y
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.
My family goes to the parade every year. If I can find a group to get hooked up with to BE in the parade I do that. Last year I was with Alan Creek Preschool. This year it was Ann Arbor Skatepark. I see the parade as a cross section of Ann Arbor. After the parade we go to Conor O'Neills with friends for lunch. It's a fun time!
Trevor Staples
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 10 a.m.
I think we should be thanking the Ann Arbor Jaycees for putting on the parade. The complainers on this site seem to want to head downtown, sit in a comfortable chair, and see the best parade they ever have... FOR FREE. If you don't like the parade, there are a few things you can do. First, contact the Ann Arbor Jaycees next year in April or May and sign up to have a group in the parade. I'll make it easy for you: http://www.a2jaycees.org/ If you're a not-for-profit group, you can be in the parade for free. The fee for for-profit groups is small. This is your chance to show people what you think a real parade is supposed to be like. Second, you could join up with the Jaycees. I'm not a member, but they're always accepting new people. They're easy to find, have meetings and events all the time, and would probably love to have more energetic, hard-working people involved in the planning of events. I'm sure there's a parade committee of some sort that you could join and contact different groups around town (be it bands, or what have you) to be a part of the parade. As a volunteer, you'll be one of many who make the parade great each year, and you can be proud to be doing something for everyone in the community. This will also give you a better understanding of how hard people work FOR FREE to put on the parade. You can't expect something for nothing. Lots of people give up their holiday to make it better for you. They deserve thanks. The third thing you can do if you don't like the Ann Arbor Jaycees parade is simply not go. That would be the easiest, but least productive choice. It's definitely open to you. Thank you, Ann Arbor Jaycees and volunteers for putting on the 4th of July parade for 20 years! Thousands of people are looking forward to next year's parade. You're doing great work!
sweet_life
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 7:32 a.m.
I have enjoyed every Ann Arbor Independence Day parade for about 15 years. I have also thought that the parade needs more music and wondered why the area high school bands don't participate. There is no set policy that prevents the HS bands from Pioneer and Huron being in the parade. However, after my own kids have gone through the local high school band programs, I understand why it doesn't happen. Participation in the parade is entirely a volunteer activity for both the kids and the band directors. It takes some work to get a decent sized group of kids together to do this once school is out. The band directors spend more time working outside of school hours and on weekends than most of us imagine. They also have an abbreviated summer break in which to plan their own family summer vacations between post school year activities taking care of instruments and uniforms and preparing for band camp in early August. Skyline has a young band director working very hard to get a new program off the ground. It is a thrill to see them in the parade. But in the long run I think it will take a grassroots organizing effort from the students themselves to keep the Skyline tradition going or to start a tradition of participation from the other two schools.
Gorc
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 7:06 a.m.
I've been attending the parade for the last seven years and it always feels like campaign trail for any politician choosing to march.
Ed Verhamme
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.
Thank you Melanie for posting all of these wonderful photos from the parade yesterday. I really enjoyed seeing so many children marching in the parade and watching the parade. There were over 82 entries in the parade from all aspects of our community. I encourage anyone who has comments regarding the parade to email parade@a2jaycees.org as we are always looking for ways to improve this tradition.
Alan Benard
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 11:58 p.m.
The Ann Arbor parade is the town at its goofy best, really. I missed the participation of the pro-peace protesters (guys, we're still in two wars, where were you?) but cheered heartily for the Gray Panthers of Washtenaw and their call to abolish corporate personhood.A tip for the loud and loutish "Tea Partiers" and other aggressive GOP folk: Don't. Just don't get in our faces, touch children without permission, holler your inanities and be annoying. It is a PARADE, just march down the middle of the street and wave. Or, rather, just keep doing what your doing and alienate EVERYONE.
JP2
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 11 p.m.
We went to the Ann Arbor 4th of July parade, ONCE (o.k., I think twice to give it a chance)...but if you really want to celebrate Independence Day you head over to the Ypsilanti parade.
48104
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.
The fife and drum corps and the old-timey bicyclists are family favorites. It was good to have the Skyline band, too -- you can never have too many bands. You can definitely have too many ill-defined groups of politicos or daycares or business people throwing cheap candy at the pavement.
Gordon
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 6:44 p.m.
With two of the largest high schools in Michigan -- both with huge, outstanding music programs, you can't convince me you can't find a "pep band" sized unit to march in their home town parade. I think what's missing is a little effort to organize it. Once again, kudos to Skyline for showing an effort and community spirit that Pioneer and Huron continue to lack.
peg dash fab
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
i, too, would love to see and hear the huron and pioneer marching bands, but school's out and the bands are scattered to the four winds, so i don't expect it to happen.
a2ta
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.
Thanks for posting the pictures! The last pic titled kids riding their decorated bikes, is actually a great shot of the Vet's Park Swim Team. A great neighborhood team-if you notice the edge of the team banner cut off on the left side of the shot! Congrats to all the swimmers who decorated bikes and scooters and passed out candy to the kids on the side of the road! This is what Ann Arbor is ALL about!
Vivienne Armentrout
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 3:28 p.m.
I'm glad to hear that there was a marching band. Can someone please tell me why the Pioneer and Huron bands don't march in parades? I gather that it is some definite policy but I've never understood it. The lack of bands is one reason that I never attend the Ann Arbor parade. What is the point? Of course I'm biased by a history as a member of a high-school marching band. We marched for everything, including the rodeo parades (only once, thankfully, behind the horses). Even now the sound of a Sousa march makes my pulse race.
Mike
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 3:23 p.m.
peg dash fab.... Your statement is correct. But, it's not the "making an appearance" that I'm complaining about. I kind of enjoy seeing John Dingell and others. I'm referring to campaign worker after campaign worker throwing paper at me, asking for votes, and generally detracting from the experience. I waved off someone representing the Tea Party who stood there and shouted at me, "But this is for America!" What fun. Anyway, thanks to the others for the nice comments about the Skyline band. I enjoyed many of the other participants as well. I, too, would like to see the Pioneer and Huron bands represented.
montyman
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 2:31 p.m.
I thought it was great to see the Skyline Marching Band today. It must be hard to get everybody together on a holiday like this. Congratulations on an excellent performance.
Gordon
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 2:19 p.m.
I've been going to the A2 parade for a couple decades and each year I'm disappointed that Pioneer and Huron bands NEVER show. To me, the best parts of the parade are seeing local youth march in support of good local activities. I really enjoyed several new entries in the parade this year including: Young Actor's Guild with kids dressed up as Capt. Hook, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, etc., the Superheroes club with kids dressed up like their favorite superhero, and the Skyline Band. Let's hear it for all these local youth groups showing off their community spirit!
peg dash fab
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 1:57 p.m.
Politicians making an appearance in the annual Fourth of July parade is a tradition as old as the parade itself.
Mike
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.
Now, I'll post this in the right place.... Is it just me or has this parade devolved into one big opportunity for politicians to solicit the public? I didn't sit along Liberty to have leaflets shoved in my face every 30 seconds. Actually I went to see my daughter march with the Skyline Band...a band!...what a concept!.
Comments
Dan Romanchik
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
I, too, would like to thank the Jaycees. This kind of thing is a lot of work, I think they do a great job. It's a lot of fun, and besides, if you're in town on the Fourth, what else do you have to do in the morning? I'd also like to thank Melanie personally for the nice photo of me. She actually made me look half-decent. :) I'm a member of ARROW, the amateur radio club that helps out the Jaycees by providing communications for the event. Fortunately, this year, there were no major problems to report, but we were ready, if needed. 73,
Rizzle
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.
I've been to quite a few of the Ann Arbor parades and I think that it's a great way to spend an hour downtown with neighbors and friends. It's true that the bands usually do cost money to bring to the parade, but I also have heard that Pioneer and Huron bands usually turn the parade organizers down when asked to participate. Yes, there are often lots of politicians and political groups, but I did not see any overly aggressive behavior from any group. Everyone seemed on good behavior and was just doing "their job". But mostly there were fun, interesting and creative groups. Ring of Steel, The Fife and Drum Band, the Skyline High Band, the Jaycees had a couple great looking floats, classic cars like a '67 Mustang convertible, Kiwanis thrift sale, A2ad Train (commercial entries can be fun too!), Cub Scouts, the Navy truck, the Twirlettes, Miss Washtenaw, the Superheroes and friends, the Ukulele Club Band, the olde tyme bikes, and more.
Ponycar
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 12:22 a.m.
One thing I think people should know. Every band (including Skyline), and some other participants in the parade, are paid to be there. The limiting factor on musical groups is expense! If more money could be raised, more and bigger musical groups could be included.
5c0++ H4d13y
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.
My family goes to the parade every year. If I can find a group to get hooked up with to BE in the parade I do that. Last year I was with Alan Creek Preschool. This year it was Ann Arbor Skatepark. I see the parade as a cross section of Ann Arbor. After the parade we go to Conor O'Neills with friends for lunch. It's a fun time!
Trevor Staples
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 10 a.m.
I think we should be thanking the Ann Arbor Jaycees for putting on the parade. The complainers on this site seem to want to head downtown, sit in a comfortable chair, and see the best parade they ever have... FOR FREE. If you don't like the parade, there are a few things you can do. First, contact the Ann Arbor Jaycees next year in April or May and sign up to have a group in the parade. I'll make it easy for you: http://www.a2jaycees.org/ If you're a not-for-profit group, you can be in the parade for free. The fee for for-profit groups is small. This is your chance to show people what you think a real parade is supposed to be like. Second, you could join up with the Jaycees. I'm not a member, but they're always accepting new people. They're easy to find, have meetings and events all the time, and would probably love to have more energetic, hard-working people involved in the planning of events. I'm sure there's a parade committee of some sort that you could join and contact different groups around town (be it bands, or what have you) to be a part of the parade. As a volunteer, you'll be one of many who make the parade great each year, and you can be proud to be doing something for everyone in the community. This will also give you a better understanding of how hard people work FOR FREE to put on the parade. You can't expect something for nothing. Lots of people give up their holiday to make it better for you. They deserve thanks. The third thing you can do if you don't like the Ann Arbor Jaycees parade is simply not go. That would be the easiest, but least productive choice. It's definitely open to you. Thank you, Ann Arbor Jaycees and volunteers for putting on the 4th of July parade for 20 years! Thousands of people are looking forward to next year's parade. You're doing great work!
sweet_life
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 7:32 a.m.
I have enjoyed every Ann Arbor Independence Day parade for about 15 years. I have also thought that the parade needs more music and wondered why the area high school bands don't participate. There is no set policy that prevents the HS bands from Pioneer and Huron being in the parade. However, after my own kids have gone through the local high school band programs, I understand why it doesn't happen. Participation in the parade is entirely a volunteer activity for both the kids and the band directors. It takes some work to get a decent sized group of kids together to do this once school is out. The band directors spend more time working outside of school hours and on weekends than most of us imagine. They also have an abbreviated summer break in which to plan their own family summer vacations between post school year activities taking care of instruments and uniforms and preparing for band camp in early August. Skyline has a young band director working very hard to get a new program off the ground. It is a thrill to see them in the parade. But in the long run I think it will take a grassroots organizing effort from the students themselves to keep the Skyline tradition going or to start a tradition of participation from the other two schools.
Gorc
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 7:06 a.m.
I've been attending the parade for the last seven years and it always feels like campaign trail for any politician choosing to march.
Ed Verhamme
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.
Thank you Melanie for posting all of these wonderful photos from the parade yesterday. I really enjoyed seeing so many children marching in the parade and watching the parade. There were over 82 entries in the parade from all aspects of our community. I encourage anyone who has comments regarding the parade to email parade@a2jaycees.org as we are always looking for ways to improve this tradition.
Alan Benard
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 11:58 p.m.
The Ann Arbor parade is the town at its goofy best, really. I missed the participation of the pro-peace protesters (guys, we're still in two wars, where were you?) but cheered heartily for the Gray Panthers of Washtenaw and their call to abolish corporate personhood.A tip for the loud and loutish "Tea Partiers" and other aggressive GOP folk: Don't. Just don't get in our faces, touch children without permission, holler your inanities and be annoying. It is a PARADE, just march down the middle of the street and wave. Or, rather, just keep doing what your doing and alienate EVERYONE.
JP2
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 11 p.m.
We went to the Ann Arbor 4th of July parade, ONCE (o.k., I think twice to give it a chance)...but if you really want to celebrate Independence Day you head over to the Ypsilanti parade.
48104
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.
The fife and drum corps and the old-timey bicyclists are family favorites. It was good to have the Skyline band, too -- you can never have too many bands. You can definitely have too many ill-defined groups of politicos or daycares or business people throwing cheap candy at the pavement.
Gordon
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 6:44 p.m.
With two of the largest high schools in Michigan -- both with huge, outstanding music programs, you can't convince me you can't find a "pep band" sized unit to march in their home town parade. I think what's missing is a little effort to organize it. Once again, kudos to Skyline for showing an effort and community spirit that Pioneer and Huron continue to lack.
peg dash fab
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
i, too, would love to see and hear the huron and pioneer marching bands, but school's out and the bands are scattered to the four winds, so i don't expect it to happen.
a2ta
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.
Thanks for posting the pictures! The last pic titled kids riding their decorated bikes, is actually a great shot of the Vet's Park Swim Team. A great neighborhood team-if you notice the edge of the team banner cut off on the left side of the shot! Congrats to all the swimmers who decorated bikes and scooters and passed out candy to the kids on the side of the road! This is what Ann Arbor is ALL about!
Vivienne Armentrout
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 3:28 p.m.
I'm glad to hear that there was a marching band. Can someone please tell me why the Pioneer and Huron bands don't march in parades? I gather that it is some definite policy but I've never understood it. The lack of bands is one reason that I never attend the Ann Arbor parade. What is the point? Of course I'm biased by a history as a member of a high-school marching band. We marched for everything, including the rodeo parades (only once, thankfully, behind the horses). Even now the sound of a Sousa march makes my pulse race.
Mike
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 3:23 p.m.
peg dash fab.... Your statement is correct. But, it's not the "making an appearance" that I'm complaining about. I kind of enjoy seeing John Dingell and others. I'm referring to campaign worker after campaign worker throwing paper at me, asking for votes, and generally detracting from the experience. I waved off someone representing the Tea Party who stood there and shouted at me, "But this is for America!" What fun. Anyway, thanks to the others for the nice comments about the Skyline band. I enjoyed many of the other participants as well. I, too, would like to see the Pioneer and Huron bands represented.
montyman
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 2:31 p.m.
I thought it was great to see the Skyline Marching Band today. It must be hard to get everybody together on a holiday like this. Congratulations on an excellent performance.
Gordon
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 2:19 p.m.
I've been going to the A2 parade for a couple decades and each year I'm disappointed that Pioneer and Huron bands NEVER show. To me, the best parts of the parade are seeing local youth march in support of good local activities. I really enjoyed several new entries in the parade this year including: Young Actor's Guild with kids dressed up as Capt. Hook, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, etc., the Superheroes club with kids dressed up like their favorite superhero, and the Skyline Band. Let's hear it for all these local youth groups showing off their community spirit!
peg dash fab
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 1:57 p.m.
Politicians making an appearance in the annual Fourth of July parade is a tradition as old as the parade itself.
Mike
Sun, Jul 4, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.
Now, I'll post this in the right place.... Is it just me or has this parade devolved into one big opportunity for politicians to solicit the public? I didn't sit along Liberty to have leaflets shoved in my face every 30 seconds. Actually I went to see my daughter march with the Skyline Band...a band!...what a concept!.