Fourth of July from All Different Directions

The local community held their annual parade starting at Franklin Elementary School and working its way to Sylvan Park. This year’s theme was ‘The Good Old Days’ with the parade's participates including pirates from the 1800's, 50's Housewives, today’s Boy and Girl scouts, Westside Steppers, and veterans from U.S. Army. The annual parade is hosted as a way to celebrate the Fourth of July as a community and bring awareness to the strong number of organizations throughout the community. The Parade started off with trained men and woman riding horses down the street. Followed by countless cars pulling floats, all with their own unique twist and decorations. What they all had in common was their undeniable pride in representing the red, white and blue and celebrating Independence Day. Trails of cars rode down the streets towing handmade constructions decorated with the red, white, and blue streams, flags, and color patterns. Cars passed by with American flags hanging out of their back windows waving to the parade watchers. The Westside Steppers Drill Team and Drum Squad, followed after in a beautiful show of bright purple uniforms, pompoms, and smiles. They performed their drill routine, which included a series of impressive steps and maneuvers, followed by their drum squad. The drum squad captivated the audience’s attention immediately. The parade watchers cheered and clapped as the drum team stepped down the streets. Performing steps, while also playing rapidly and precisely on their drum beats. “It was incredible to perform in front of so many people! This is something that we work really hard at and love to do,” said Raymond Gray a drummer with the Westside Steppers Drill Team and Drum Squad “The parade was good, it was nice,” he added. The Mom’s Club of Redlands, dressed in original handmade 50's housewives attire, walked down the street. A mom in a teal dress and white apron with a big red bow in her hair carried her daughter during the parade. “It was my first time being on the other side,” said Renee Jones-Carbalho, a member of the Mom’s Club of Redlands. “It was really fun. I loved creating my costumes and seeing everyone else’s. It was an amazing experience,” she said. Following the Mom’s Club of Redlands was Alo and the Steam Nauts, a group made up of four steam punk comic enthusiasts. They rode down in their costume float which resembled a pirate ship. They captured attention as they came down the street. “We’re glad to get a chance to participate in the parade again,” said the Esteban Sandoval of the Alo and the Steam Nauts.