Peachtree City Independence Day Parade

I went home to Peachtree City, GA for the Fourth of July (and to drive back in my new Mazda Tribute - more about that in another post). In order to understand the 4th of July festivities, you have to know that Peachtree City is a golfcart community. Almost every family has a golfcart, and there are paths throughout the community connecting the various subdivisions, shopping areas, etc. Most people drive their golfcarts around town rather than their cars, at least for short distances.

Every year on the 4th of July, Peachtree City hosts a huge parade on the main street, and EVERYONE shows up, mostly in golfcarts. People were staking out their spots to watch the parade the night before! Thankfully my cousin Tracy held us a spot, since we (my parents, brother, me, and Harley) drove the golfcart over from home and it's about a half-hour drive on the paths through the woods. We waited around for the parade to start, enjoying the cool of the morning before the sun started beating down on us.

The parade started off with a military color guard, followed by people dressed in uniforms from various times throughout America's history. It was a bit odd - last year I was in Scotland on the 4th, and this year I saw a man wearing a kilt in America on the 4th!

Mostly the parade involved politicians campaigning, churches and various stores advertising from floats, school marching bands performing, and lots of other groups. This year they even had a couple of floating balloons, though not quite like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. There's also a contest for the best decorated golfcart (everyone decorates their golfcarts for the holidays), and the winners get to be in the parade. The people in the parade throw candy, cups, frisbees, bananas, etc., to the crowds. Dad and the boys figured out quickly that if you act crazy, people notice you and throw more goodies to you.

Schwann's always passes out free bomb pops (the red, white, and blue popcicles that are my favorite!). Harley likes them too - he ate two of them, and then finished off Adam's when he wasn't looking!