Thousands Expected for Brandon Fourth of July Parade

Show your community pride this Fourth of July at the annual Brandon parade.

According to Marie Cain, this year's parade chairwoman, residents are invited to dress in red, white and blue, brandish American flags and line the parade route for the annual Fourth of July parade through Brandon. This year's theme is Community Pride.

Don't forget umbrellas to shade yourself from the sun, lawn chairs and plenty of bottled water, said Cain. Temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees on July 4. No glass containers or alcohol are permitted.

Luckily, this year's parade route affords spectators plenty of shade. The route runs north on Parsons Avenue, turns west on Robertson Street, crosses Kings Avenue and heads north on Buckingham Place, ending at the Publix shopping center on State Road 60. The preferred spots are along shady Parsons Avenue so Cain advises residents to come early to get a spot in the shade. The reviewing stand will be in front of the Copper Bell Cafe, 401 S. Parsons Ave., which will offer snow cones, hot dogs and drinks during the parade as will Campbell's Dairyland across the street at 200 S. Parsons Ave.

Cain said concession stands also will be set up at various points along to parade route, selling cold drinks, hot dogs, caramel corn and ice cream.

Keep in mind, Lumsden Road between Kings and Parsons avenues, Parsons between Lumsden Road and Robertson Street and Robertson Street between Parsons Avenue and Buckingham Place will be closed for the parade. Parts of Lumsden Road will begin closing at 7:30 a.m. as parade entries begin lining up. Other roads will close at 9 a.m.

This year's parade will feature more than 100 marching bands, floats, military units, antique cars, fire engines and cheerleading teams. New this year is the Wells Fargo stagecoach with horses. Also featured will be the Community Roundtable float, sponsored by Rasmussen College, featuring Center Place, the roundtable's Nonprofit of the Year.

Brandon's Father of the Year also will appear in the parade. Each year the roundtable asks students in third through fifth grade to submit letters about their fathers and chooses a winning letter. This year's letter was by 11-year-old Boyette Springs Elementary School student Jordan Davis about her father, Joseph.

The youngster noted that her father saved neighbors from a fire after the dry grasses in the conservation area behind their home caught fire. Davis turned on the hose and created a wet barrier to protect the homes from fire while his wife, Wendy, called 911.

Also appearing in the parade will be Brandon's new honorary mayor. Valrico residents Barbara Schwabe and Cami Gibertini have been hosting fundraisers throughout June to raise money for the annual campaign. The candidate that raises the most money for charity is declared the winner. The money is counted on the morning of July 4.

According to Cain, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office estimates that 30,000 people will attend this year's parade, making it the largest Fourth of July parade in the state.

For safety reasons, the Community Roundtable, organizer of the parade, has asked that beads and candy not be thrown from the parade route. Instead, walkers will be handing out items to spectators.

The annual Brandon parade is more than 50 years old. Originally, the parade was held along State Road 60, ending at the Brandon Recreation Center.

For the past 25 years the parade has been held along Parsons Avenue and Robertson Street, with the exception of last year when the roundtable staged the parade along Oakfield Drive.

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