Deadline June 1 to Enter Brandon Fourth of July Parade

News Report

Veterans groups, marching bands, Scout troops and businesses have until Friday to apply to enter this year's Brandon Fourth of July Parade.

According to parade chairman, Marie Cain, June 1 is the final day to enter the parade, a community tradition for more than 50 years.

Organized by the Community Roundtable, an organization composed of representatives of Brandon area organizations, the Fourth of July Parade will kick off July 4 at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at the intersection of Lumsden and Parsons Avenue, proceed up Parsons Avenue to Robertson Street, cross over Oakfield Drive and end in the parking lot of the Publix on State Road 60.

This year's theme is "Brandon’s Pioneering Families" and each float should represent Brandon’s history.

The $75 entry fee covers displaying a sign for the sponsoring company plus signage for a nonprofit organization. These groups are permitted to have identical signage on both sides of the vehicle. Military emblems are exempt from this rule.

At a mandatory meeting Wednesday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m., parade participants will receive line-up packets, details on the parade and will have any questions answered. 

Applications for the parade are available on the Community Roundtable's website.

In addition to participants, volunteers are needed on the day of the parade. All floats must have four safety officers walking at the four corners of the float. Each safety officer must wear a green safety vest and have a referee-style whistle.

To assist volunteers, the Roundtable will have those two items for sale at the mandatory informational meeting on Wednesday, June 20. Each item is priced at $2.50.

For more information, contact Cain at 813-661-4350