You don't have to take USA Today's word for it, you can see Racine's Fourth Fest parade for yourself this Friday. We're confident it will live up to pre-billing as one of the best in the country.
This year's July 4 parade has 140 bands, marching groups and floats scheduled!
The parade will march a 2.6 mile route, from its starting point at Goold and Main Streets. Marchers will head down Main to 14th Street, then west to the Golden Rondelle.
The pre-parade will begin at 8:15 a.m., with the parade itself starting at 9 a.m. Don't forget, fireworks on the Lake Michigan shoreline, near North Beach, will begin about 9 p.m. to end Independence Day with the proper bang!Fourth Fest president is Jim Deibler of Sew'n Save; Mr. Fourth Fest, selected each year by the parade committee in recognition of volunteer efforts to make the parade a success, is Mark Chaffee. Honorary parade marshal will be Brewers' bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel, a 1989 graduate of Horlick High School and a resident of Racine (with his wife and three young kids).
Theme for this year's parade is "A Day at the Circus.” In keeping with that, of course we need clowns. Here are five, including trainer Janis Kaser, retired Ringling Bros. Circus clown "Sneakers." Also pictured are Paige Macemon who wanted to be a clown, and had to have her mom, Heather Macemon, join to bring her to the workshop... and along came grandma, Shari Poulsen -- three generations. Then we have Sister Alice Rademacher, a nun who happened to have a costume her mother had made her quite some time ago that she wanted to put to good use.Our 72nd annual Independence Day Parade is sponsored in part by Racine on the Lake, CNH, Johnson Bank, Twin Disc, SC Johnson, In-Sink-Erator, Time Warner Cable, Modine Manufacturing, Tommy’s Chicago Dogs, Norco Inc., Central States Mortgage, Bank of Elmwood, Purath-Strand Funeral Home, Racine Dental, Andis Company, Great Northern Corporation, Putzmeister, Ace Stamping, The Blood Center of Wisconsin, and Wal-Mart.
The fireworks along the Lake Michigan shoreline are sponsored by Frank Boucher Chevrolet, and a special ground-display of fireworks is sponsored by the Hispanic Business Professionals Association. Educators Credit Union is sponsoring the barrel campaign, where parade-goers can donate to help offset expenses.
After the break we've listed the complete parade marching order:
1 Fourth Fest President - Jim Deibler
2 Golly Giants Stilt Walkers
3 Agerholm-Gross Det. #346 Marine Corps League
4 Racine Concert Band
5 Mayor Becker & Mayor Hector Alveraz Conteras,
Zapotlanejo, Mexico
6 La Tapatia
7 Hispanic Business and Professional Asociation
8 Dignitaries from Sister City Zapotlanejo, Mexico
9 Miss Latina Racine Scholarship Corp.
10 Mr. Fourth Fest - Mark Chaffee
11 Honorary Parade Marshal - Marcus Hanel
11A Koos for Kids - Britany Michna
12 Racine Youth Sports
12A Alderman David Maack
12B Alderman Anderson
12C Alderman DeHahn
12D Alderman Mozel
12E County Executive Bill McReynolds
12F Jim Ladwig - Register of Deeds
13 Racine County Clerk of Courts, Rose Lee
13A Miss Racine Scholarship Pageant, Laura Kuzia
13B Dream Girls USA & Miss Junior Racine
14 Congressman Paul Ryan
15 State Senator John Lehman
16 State Representative Robert Turner
17 State Representative Cory Mason
18 WRJN - Don Rosen
19 Racine Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps.
20 VFW Post 1391
21 S.E. Wisconsin Red Cross
22 First Team Troopers Color Guard
23 Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 767
24 336 Firefighters U.S. Army Reserves
25 Boys of 76 Colorguard
26 American Legion Post 310 Bronze Float
27 Rainbow Corner Childcare
28 Otto Last - Model T Ford
29 Racine 4th Fest Calliope
30 Honorary Society 40/8 ET
31 The Baby Boomers Bikers
32 Care Bear Child Care
33 The Martial Arts Center Inc.
34 American Professional Driving School
35 Lighthouse Brigade of Racine
36 Boy Scouts of America, SE Wis. Council Inc.
37 Racine Studio of Performing Arts
38 Harbor Light Yacht Club
39 Blood Center of Wisconsin
40 Debbie Hahn - Miniature Horses
41 Knights of Columbus 697/Assembly 207
42 Prospect Heights Community Living
43 Modine
44 Atonement Lutheran Church
45 Old Timers Athletic Club
46 Donald Dinges - 1946 Tractor
47 Celtic Nation Pipe & Drums Band
48 R/K CAA Head Start
49 Racine P.H. Club of Zembo Temple #70
50 Wisconsin Wildcats Sport Organization
51 Roma Lodge
52 Vittoria Colonna- Italian Women
53 Horlick High School - pom-pons
54 Horlick High School Student Government
55 Horlick High School Cheerleaders
56 Wisconsin Lutheran School
57 McMynn Tower Apartment
58 City of Racine Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Dept.
59 St. Patrick's Church
60 First Friends Animal Rescue, Inc.
61 Camp Anokijig
62 Milwaukee Alarm
63 Trinity Lutheran Church and School
64 Junior Lighthouse Brigade
65 Racine Chapter DeMolay
66 Job's Daughters International
67 Racine Bell City Lodge #18
68 Masters of Movement Arts
69 501st Legion- Midwest Garrison
70 Nerds on Site
71 Greg Mandala & Family
72 Leadership Racine Alumni Association
73 Alicia Villa Realty Inc.
74 Cancelled
75 American Diabetes Association
76 Wells Fargo Bank NA
77 Big Fish Bash
78 UW-Parkside Alumni Association
79 United Way of Racine County
80 Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints
81 Christ Church
82 Sturtevant Memorial Post VFW 9948
83 Church-Iglesia Canaan Temple de Restauration
84 It's All About Racine Radio Show - Mr. Racine Mark Eickhorst
85 American Legion First District
86 New Day Drum & Bugle Corps
87 U-Bake
88 Racine Area Soccer Association
89 Trinity Lutheran Church of Caledonia
90 New Star Discovery Contest
91 Jesus Alive Ministries Inc.
92 Johnson Family of Companies
93 The Ultimate Kid Fest Company, LLC
94 Park High School Pom-Pons
95 Park High School Cheerleaders
96 Racine Zoo
97 Racine Public Library
98 Hispanic Business Alliance
99 Penguin Players
100 Academy of Dance
101 Rocky Rococco Pizza & Pasta
102 Love Park Shrine Club Revolving Carousel
103 Racine Montessori School
104 Marie Oliver Realty
105 The Gospel Lighthouse
106 John Paul II Academy
107 Blue Star Mother's of Southeast Wisconsin
108 Boy Scout Troop 203 Drum & Bugle Corps
109 Racine Yacht Club Youth Sailors
110 Navy Club Ship 60 of Racine
111 Cancelled
112 Lincoln Lutheran
113 5th Street Yacht Club
114 Shadows of Life Band
115 Carthage College
116 Girl Scout Troop 5822
117 Caledonia Baseball/Softball
118 Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority Inc.
119 Designated Driver/Safe Ride
120 Southeast Gateway Group of the Sierra Club
121 Gentile Scion
122 Black Belt Karate Studio
123 Cancelled
124 Papa Murphy's
125 Cheryl McCrary & Heir-Born Praise Band
126 Century 21 Savaglio & Cape
127 Hunterz Bar & Grill
128 Racine Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
129 The Junior League of Racine & Racine Kenosha Builders Assn.
130 Charles DeDyne
131 DeDyne Dance Group
132 Racine Raiders Football Club
133 Racine Gymnastics Center
134 Racine Moose Family Center #437
135 Racine Rotary West
136 Telstar Racing & Wayout Willard's Wild World of Motorsports
137 The World of Bridal Fashions "ANAHI"
138 Kilties Drum & Bugle Corps
139 Red Apple Elementary
140 Acme General Purpose Band
#'s 5, 12A, & 12D = FAKE!!!
ReplyDelete12E - I'm assuming that's the county exec? Not trying to be critical here but just wondering if that's your typo or if the 4th Fest committee actually published that? lol
ReplyDeleteIt's not our typo, except for the fact that it's on our site. I'll check it out tomorrow-- thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhy are the Kilties so far down the line-up this year?
ReplyDeleteI would guess being a marching unit, they are probably marching in more than one parade on that day, so to ensure that the parade keeps moving, they put the Kilts farther down in the lineup to make sure they are there on time.
ReplyDelete