We moved into Highland Park in Dallas, in 1988, just as Audrey was going into first grade and Claire and Whitney were going to kindergarten. Highland Park had wonderful July 4 parades with everyone joining in. People would drive their boats and trucks in the parade with children sitting on top throwing candy and patriotic music blaring. As the parade was winding down, all the spectators would join the back of the parade on bikes, skates, or on foot and go to Goar Park for a picnic, where clowns would be face painting and making balloon animals, people would toss frisbees, and play various ball games. Our next door neighbor invited us a couple of times to Dallas Country Club for dinner and to watch the fireworks on the golf course. It was a lot of fun!
When we moved to Sarasota in 1992, I got together with a couple of neighbors and we organized a neighborhood entry in the July 4 parade downtown, with kids on bikes and roller blades, and adults carrying an enormous American flag. We all wore red, white, and blue, with kids decorating their own t-shirts. Later in the day, kids paraded through the neighborhood on bikes and parents gathered at a neighbor's home on the bayfront for a potluck dinner and to watch fireworks over Sarasota Bay. The potluck dinner and fireworks party continued for years and may still be ongoing. It was a neighbor gathering and celebration we always looked forward to. Happy July 4!
