Chamber Update

Posted

By Linda Zahn

CEO, GSPCC

The July 4th weekend is upon us, and with it comes the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce July 4th Parade. This annual event began in 1975 with Grand Marshal Cliff Dawson and today in 2011, we honor as our Grand Marshals four World War II veterans. The choice of these four fine men compliments our theme of “Salute to Patriots of Liberty.”

I especially want to acknowledge our two corporate sponsors BankAnnapolis and Dynasplint Systems. They have generously provided the funds to help bring the parade and festival to the community. Both Dynasplint Systems and BankAnnapolis have been longtime members of the Chamber and great supporters of our community.

The Independence Day parade begins at 10:00am on Monday, July 4th and it culminates with a Festival at Cypress Creek Park until 1:30pm. The parade steps off from St. Martin’s In The Field Episcopal Church and Our Shepherd Lutheran Church on Benfield Road. Streets will close promptly at 10:00am along the parade route. Our appreciation goes to the police officers and reserve officers who will be helping that day. We also thank the many volunteers from the Greater Severna Park Chamber who are contributing the resources to help make this great community event a reality.

There are a number of attractions. One is the display of vintage and show cars entering the parade and then parking at Cypress Creek Park, where they are then judged. From farm tractors to sleek Corvettes, it is quite a line up!  The parade will feature community floats, scouts, music, costumed characters, and all the wonderful components of a hometown July 4th parade.

One unique feature of this year’s Severna Park parade is the Decorated Bike Contest for our youngest residents. Children get the opportunity to decorate everything from little red wagons and tricycles to bikes, and they can win prizes for Most Original, Most Patriotic and Most Beautiful. They can then ride proudly from Holly Avenue to Sunrise of Severna Park, where we have set up a safe holding area in which they can park and join their families. Registration for the contest begins at 9:15am on Holly Avenue.

Also at the Festival will be an agricultural petting zoo, courtesy of Kinder Farm Park 4-H Club, a dunking booth, a rock-climbing wall from Big Vanilla, a pony ring, and a moon bounce. Green Hornets Football is holding a “Punt, Pass and Kick” competition. This year a new attraction is the Fun Bus with airbrush tattoos, plinko, a ball bounce and frog-flinging games. There will be a duck pond for the youngest attendees.

If you like great food, check out the pit beef and pit turkey sandwiches, and of course the all-American hot dogs and hamburgers. Top it all off with a sno-ball or gelato. You can enjoy music from John Tegler’s five-piece jazz group that will play in the parade and then pull into the festival grounds to continue the entertainment until 1:30pm.

We wish you a happy and safe 4th of July, and hope to see you at the parade! If there are questions, please call 410-647-3900 or email info@severnaparkchamber.com.

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