Edmonds desperately wants entries for Fourth of July parade to go on – KIRO 7 Information Seattle

The city of Edmonds is trying to make a comeback on July 4th, but right now the annual parade desperately needs participants; otherwise the centuries-old tradition will have to wait until next year.

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Three weeks before the fourth, the streets of Edmonds are already looking very patriotic.

The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce raises funds for its annual July 4th celebrations, and since it began in 1907, the parade has only been canceled twice. But now the beloved tradition is in danger.

“People missed it last year and people really want it to come back, but we need people to be in the parade to have a parade,” said Greg Urban, CEO of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.

According to the chamber, the parade would usually have 80 to 100 participants. Currently, only about a quarter of that number has registered.

“It feels like I’ve boxed an octopus. Five months of planning in four weeks is very intensive, ”said Urban.

Urban said motivating the typical participants was a challenge this year.

“The organizations didn’t meet for this last year, a year and a half, and they lost touch. They don’t all have connections with their volunteer groups. The people are scattered in the wind, so to speak, ”said Urban.

In order for the show to continue, the Chamber needs 40 registrations, which are confirmed by Monday, June 21st.

“We really want people to think outside the box. We have a very close-knit neighborhood group that is talking about the neighborhood just getting on the parade and walking as Spruce Street, “said Urban.

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Couldn’t you walk when you graduated from high school? Do you have a cool car to show? They want you in the parade.

Rumor has it that Edmond’s own travel guru, Rick Steves, will be the parade’s great marshal this year, and this time around, the supply of fireworks is booming.

The city typically fires around 550 shells, but this year they’ll be increased to 900.

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