Miss Bel Air Independence Day Stephanie Meadowcroft Visits County Council, Bel Air Commissioners Urging Participation in Fourth of July Parade

From the Bel Air Independence Day Committee:

Stephanie Meadowcroft, the 2012 Miss Bel Air Independence Day, recently visited the Harford County Council and the Bel Air Town Commissioners to spread the word about joining the Bel Air Fourth of July Parade!

Meadowcroft urged the elected officials to help the Bel Air Independence Day Committee reach out to community groups to submit their floats, marching units, performers, antique cars, hot rods, commercial units, animal acts and more for the traditional Bel Air 4th of July parade, set for Wed., July 4, 2012, at 6 p.m.in downtown Bel Air, Maryland.

“We are really interested in participants to be in the parade!” Meadowcroft told the county council at their May 1 meeting. “We are always looking for new and interesting participants. Joining is very easy, and is open to non-profit groups, youth organizations , local businesses — basically anyone that’s really interested in showing their spirit about being in Bel Air.”

Applications to participate in the parade, plus all the required information, are available on-line at the Committee’s official web site: http://www.belairjuly4.org.

“It’s important to get your application in early,” said Parade Chairman Michael Blum, who is running his 20th consecutive parade this year. “We are able to accommodate almost every kind of patriotic unit, but we need to know the details, because our staging area is very tight.”

This year’s theme, “Land of the Free!” is also very important — all units are requested to decorate themselves in a manner consistent with appearing in a patriotic July 4th parade, and the judges choose winners based how well the unit conforms to the specific theme.

“We love antique cars and we love dogs on parade, for instance,” said Blum. “So, in keeping with the vision we have for our parade, we’d like some patriotic creativity. We’d love those dogs to have red-white-and-blue bandannas or star-spangled leashes, and the antique cars to be flying the flag or draped in some patriotic way. Surprise us!”

The Bel Air July 4th Parade is produced by the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, a 501(C)(3) independent not-for-profit organization.

Information and details about supporting the celebration, entering the Program Cover contest, entering the parade, participating in the daytime activities, and volunteering, are given in full detail on the Committee’s official website: http://www.belairjuly4.org.