Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Dunwoody 4th of July Parade - 9 a.m. down Mt. Vernon Rd ending in the Village.

Dunwoody Crier - Parade Special Section

9:00 a.m. Start Time

Georgia's Largest 4th of July Parade organized by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association starts at 9 am with Dunwoody's First Mayor, Ken Wright leading the procession as the Grand Marshal.    Mt. Vernon will be closed to vehicle traffic at about 8:30 so please find your seat in the shade early and be considerate of others when parking.  Last year I shot a little video of my parade experience and it gives a good feel for what to expect from this year's parade. Check it out.


Candy for the kids has always been a big part of the parade but know that it is suppose to be handed out, not thrown.  Parents please extra vigilant over the safety of your children as accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.  Swim teams and younger participants usually start from St. Lukes (about the half way point) therefore I recommended to a friend with a sweet tooth that he should sit just to the West of St. Lukes as the swim team's candy stash will still be fresh.

Please support a couple of charities at the parade, Troop 764 from St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church pushing grocery carts along the parade route collecting food CAC’s Food Pantry.    Pebble Tossers, a non-profit youth service organization, will be collecting Thank You cards for soldiers and veterans along the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade route. Please make your card at home and bring to the parade with you! Pebble Tossers will deliver the cards to the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Decatur on July 5th.

Boy Scout Troop 494, from Dunwoody Baptist Church, will collect flags to be retired at Dunwoody High School band’s bake sale tent.  Parade-goers are encouraged to turn in worn or dirty U.S. flags they no longer use. Troop 494 will take the flags to scout camp at Woodruff Scout Reservation in mid-July and “retire” the colors in a ceremony that honors our nation’s flag with the dignity and respect it is due. Those who are unable to drop off flags after the parade will find a red bin waiting in the lobby of the Fitness Center at Dunwoody Baptist Church through July 10th.

The closing ceremonies at Dunwoody Village will feature a concert by the 116th Army National Guard Band, a closing concert by the Village Church of Dunwoody band, several patriotic displays and the awards for best parade entrants.

As always, non-profit groups will sell food and beverages at parade’s end. The popular barbecue lunches from Boy Scout Troop 266 of Dunwoody United Methodist are the troop’s biggest fund-raiser of the year and food can be ordered in advance at a discount. The All Saints Catholic Knights of Columbus will be selling hamburgers and the Dunwoody High football program will sell spirit wear.  Calvary Church Kids Zone will offer Jumpies, sides, face painting, and games for kids of all ages near the Goodyear Tire and Service Center.

Other non-profits on hand include Georgia Flight Youth Basketball with sno-cones, Homestead Hope Foundation, Queen of Hearts Foundation, the VFW, Pebble Tossers, the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce and Scout Troop 494 with a flag collection.


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