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Laid-back Everglades City celebrates Fourth on the sixth
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Everglades City Fourth of July parade
The Everglades City Fourth of July parade was held on Sunday, July 6, 2008.
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Folks do things a little differently in Everglades City.
At few times is that more evident than at the town’s annual Fourth of July parade, held Sunday.
“Our fireworks are the best,” said Mayor Sammy Hamilton Jr. “That’s the reason we don’t do it the same day as everybody else, because ours are the best and we want everyone to be able to come and see ours.”
While Linda Beale isn’t convinced that she can’t get the same “ooh-ahh” factor elsewhere, she said something does set the celebration apart from others.
Beale, a Fort Lauderdale resident who has had a vacation home in Everglades City for four years, said the laid-back atmosphere of the celebration keeps her family coming back.
“It’s fun for the kids,” she said. “They like the parade because they have candy, they like the bounce house. And I like that no one cares how you look.”
She reclined on a towel at the side of the road Sunday with her son and three grandsons, waiting for the stream of cars, trucks, tractors and ambulances to roll past. Parade participants came in every form, from Mayor Hamilton and his family, riding in a 1957 El Dorado convertible, to the 7th Florida Infantry Confederate Reenactors, marching down Broadway Street with muskets over their shoulders.
The parade, a true testament to the off-beat, pioneering spirit of Southwest Florida, gave reverence to both the American flag and the Confederate flag. The sound of the reenactors’ guns firing mingled with sirens from Ochopee Fire trucks as the parade wound through the streets.
A cannon fired by the soldiers over the city square kicked the parade into high gear — and woke up any onlookers who might have gotten too comfortable.
“It’s personal, it’s a small town and people will get into it,” said resident Bob Wells, who acted as the emcee for the event. “It’s a town with a lot of spirit, a lot of kick and a lot of go.”
Wells, a fifth-generation Southwest Floridian, has lived in Everglades City all his life. He said the parade is just a natural extension of the city’s distinct local flavor.
After the parade, the revellers turned to the city’s park for a celebration that had the feel of one big backyard barbecue. Children squirmed down an inflated water slide, neighbors chatted over hot dogs and dragonflies flitted through the thick afternoon air.
“(It’s special) because it’s Everglades City,” said Hamilton. “We always do put on good parades. A different kind — more local.”
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"Folks do things a little differently in Everglades City." THEY SURE DO, lol
they killed the day by smoking green, pounding
back bush beer, popping pain killers, and runnin
their mouths about each other....just another day in paradise...
#1 Posted by ncb1978 on July 6, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They forgot to mention how organized the line was for the Klan march.
;-)
#2 Posted by Optipess on July 7, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well ncb1978 u must be from New York well go back there the clan march no stupid it is heritage not hate its history sorry that u are as dumb as a rock i know a lot of families in Everglades good people hey ncb1978 go screw yourself u tree hugger
#3 Posted by thethrob on July 7, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The South "LOST" the war, don't you remember?
#4 Posted by RockfordGrad on July 7, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IN RESPONSE TO POSTING #1 (nbc1978),JUST HOW WOULD YOU COME TO HAVE ALL THAT INFO ON WHAT PEOPLE WERE DOING UNLESS YOU WERE HANGING W/THEM TO ACTUALLY SEE IT, OR JUST MAYBE YOU GUESSED AT IT, OR MADE IT UP IN YOUR PITIFUL LIT'L HEAD! SORRY YOU FEEL SO SOUR, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP, YOU WILL LIVE LONGER! YES EVERGLADES IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, HANG OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME! I GREW UP THERE, MOVED AWAY 34 YRS AGO, BUT I STILL GO BACK ALL THE TIME! I KNOW ALMOST ALL THE LOCALS! THEY ARE VERY HEART-WARMING PEOPLE! OF ALL THE FEED-BACK I GOT ON THE FESTIVITIES FOR THE 6TH, NONE WERE NEGATIVE! AND MOST EVERYTHING DOWN THERE WAS GEARED FOR THE CHILDREN TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND THEY DID!, ALONG WITH THE ADULTS!SO IF ANYONE READING THIS EVER WANTS TO GO HAVE SOME GOOD 'OLE LAID-BACK FUN, OR GOOD FISHING, JUST TAKE A LITTLE TRIP TO EVERGLADES CITY!, YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!!
#5 Posted by DREBELANGEL on July 7, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Many forget that E-City was the hub of Collier County at one time. I'm sure the transplants don't realize the County Seat was in E-City up until Hurricane Donna put the little town under water and they moved it to Naples. Just like anytown USA, there are good people and bad people. I've been to many festivities in E-City and unlike Naples they go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
#6 Posted by Typeone on July 7, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everglades City is an awesome community.
#7 Posted by nhsmom on July 7, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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