From the Bel Air Independence Day Committee:
In an effort to make fireworks viewing locations more accessible, improve the spectator experience and reduce disruption to local neighborhoods and businesses, the Bel Air Independence Day Committee today announced that it is reversing the direction of the 2015 Bel Air July 4 parade.
The 2015 parade will proceed along the exact same route as in the past several years, but will now start where it previously ended, and end where it previously started. It will begin at the intersection of South Main Street and Idlewild Street, and end at the intersection of North Main Street and East Gordon Street, near the Harford County Historical Society.
In addition, the parade reviewing stand will now be located at the Harford County Government Administrative Offices, near the route’s midpoint.
Spectator viewing areas will remain exactly the same, running along both sides of South and North Main Street.
Benefits to parade spectators include not having to look directly into the sun from the northeast side of the street, and a better flow to the parade due to the width of the early blocks of South Main Street. Those attending the subsequent fireworks display over Rockfield Park will also be able to more easily reach that area from the new location of the reviewing stand.
“Since 1992, when I took over the leadership of the parade, we’ve had six or seven different parade routes and staging areas, changing plans as dictated by public safety needs, road construction events, and our desire to take advantage of the attractiveness of the Town,” says Parade Chairman Michael Blum.
“The ending point for decades was at South Main and Idlewild, but that tradition was based on the parade being followed by fireworks over the Bel Air High School/Middle School complex,” Blum continues. “Now that the fireworks have been for years fired off over Rockfield Park, we took a look at how we could stage the parade and give the community the best view of it, and this is our conclusion.”
Applications to join the 2015 Bel Air July 4 parade are still being accepted; complete instructions and application forms are available at http://belairjuly4.org.
I would be on board with this if the fireworks were actually worth attending. Ever since they moved them away from BAMS/BAHS they have been pathetic.
While the viewing areas have been split up, the fireworks are pretty much at the same intensity. Might I suggest finding a different viewing location?
I hope there are more fire trucks and less new cars.
I would like to see the parade limited to local groups only. Last year was way too long and so many out of town groups that were paid to be here. That’s a lot of money spent by the town of Bel Air.
So go home. Makes no sense to complain about anything taking too long if you have legs and are otherwise not tethered in some way.
I beleive the Comittee is non-profit and it does not receive any monies from TOBA, only from private citizens and businesses. Please correct me if I am wrong.
@Money Tree
Do you work? You always seem to have to have time to cut down someone or something on the Dagger. I find it amazing that you have nothing better to do.
How is it cutting down someone complaining about the length of an event to suggest they leave? Maybe other people like a long parade. What I find funny is the people that spend a whole bunch more time on Dagger than I do just making up new names sometimes even on the same thread.
You are right, and I am wrong. I apologize.
Money Tree, it is just my opinion that the parade was too long last year.. Nothing more than that. That is what this comment section is for–making our opinions heard.
And yes, we did leave early, just as you suggested we should have done. And we will again this year if it drags on.
As for where the money comes from Native, perhaps it is all from fundraising and not from taxpayers. I do not know. I do know that the local high schools who have their marching bands participate get paid a decent sum of money. If all these groups are paid the same amount, that is a lot of fundraising or taxpayer money, whichever it really is.
I do understand what you’re saying. In my family half stay the entire time and love it rain or shine, then others crack out of there an hour early because they’re tired of the sun and don’t want to leave when every car in the county is trying to get out of there at the same time. I know many of the marchers are shared between multiple parades in the area…it’s the only way Bel Air or HdG, etc. could afford to bring some of the bigger bands – one in particular that’s always at both parades is from Canada…they are always sharp and I’d miss them not being here. If we were going to cut anything I’d remove the politicians!
“Spectator viewing areas will remain exactly the same, running along both sides of South and North Main Street.”
and
“Benefits to parade spectators include not having to look directly into the sun from the northeast side of the street…”
Huh?
If you are sitting on the northeast side of the parade route, say at the Reckord Armory, and the parade comes from your right to your left, you are looking into the sun when you look at the approaching units. From the same spot, if the parade is coming from your left to your right, you are looking away form the sun. The photograph published with the article shows this. If you are sitting on the northwest side of the parade route, say at the County Office Building, with the building behind you, then it doesn’t matter.Hope this answers your question.
Those marching will get to stare into the sun, I guess. Hope they bring their sunglasses!
Does anyone else besides me read this article and wonder what in the heck it is talking about. I have been watching the parade for 30 years and really don’t get what difference it makes as to the direction of the parade. Just sounds like a load of garbage to accomodate someone.