eat red-hot dogs , wearing loyal clothing , and watch fireworks may be the quintessential Fourth of July experience , but some Americans celebrate Independence Day in zanier , more atypical ways . From a manna from heaven box parade to a best-loved parade , these seven far-out , eccentric Fourth of July parade might make you reconsider how you spend the Fourth .
1. WILI BOOM BOX PARADE // WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT
For the preceding 30 years , Willimantic , Connecticut has host an annualBoom Box Paradeon July 4 . Why boom boxes ? Well , it was a affair of necessary : In 1986 , no marching dance orchestra were useable to perform in a Memorial Day parade , so the Ithiel Town had to get originative . Willimantic resident Kathleen Clark suggest that the local radio station , WILI , bring marching isthmus euphony while parade participants bear gravy box radios tuned to WILI . Since the town ’s first boom box parade — which happened on the Fourth of July rather than Memorial Day — thousands of people have celebrated Independence Day by break red , white , and blue and carrying a radio tuned to WILI .
2. PEACHTREE ROAD RACE // ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Rather than watch parade participants march or bear on a float , some Atlantans spend their Fourth of July morning watching 60,000 masses run a 10k race . Started in 1970 , thePeachtree Road Raceis the largest 10k in the world . One hundred and fifty thousand spectators tent out around different spotlight of the raceway to watch and encourage the runners . And everyone celebrates both the Fourth of July and the conclusion of the raceway at Atlanta ’s Piedmont Park .
3. MURRELLS INLET BOAT PARADE // MURRELLS INLET, SOUTH CAROLINA
Since 1984 , residents of Murrells Inlet , South Carolina have celebrated Independence Day with aBoat Parade . thou of mass gain to watch the boats ( which are ornament with loyal vividness ) , eat solid food , and await for the fireworks presentation . It cost just $ 5 to infix your boat in the parade , and the best - decorated boats get a prize . Due to high-pitched tide safety concerns , this twelvemonth ’s Fourth of July Boat Parade will be carry , for the first prison term ever , on Saturday , July 2 instead .
4. PET PARADE // BEND, OREGON
If you ’re an animal lover , you ’ll believably love Bend , Oregon ’s Fourth of JulyPet Parade . Since the 1930s , kids and their pets have participate in this parade , which has included everything from sawhorse , blackguard , and Capricorn to badgers , chickens , and baby coyotes . Some kids wear costume and bring stuffed animals in lieu of a real animal , and there are water pools and shaded areas to check that that the animal do n’t overheat . More than 8000 people watch and participate in the annual Pet Parade .
5 . MIDNIGHT PARADE // GATLINBURG , TENNESSEE
Because their parade begins at midnight , Gatlinburg , Tennessee boasts the “ First Independence Day Parade In The country . ” TheMidnight Paradehas pass for over 40 years and despite its start time , appeal 80,000 spectators . The parade itself sport march circle and float , and the spectators are seriously enthusiastic — some people camp out on the pavement the sunup of July 3 to get a full smirch .
6 . KIDS ’ PARADE // WEST SEATTLE , WASHINGTON
At the West Seattle Fourth of JulyKids Parade , you wo n’t see big floats and bombastic marching banding . Instead , kids take the air , ride scooters , or wheel along the path , while parent push younger Kid in go-cart or wagons . Hundreds of families in West Seattle ’s North Admiral vicinity participate , and some small fry decorate their bikes and wagons with red , white-hot , and blue . After the parade , families can picnic and enter garden cart and three - legged slipstream at Hamilton Viewpoint Park .
7 . WORLD ’S SHORTEST PARADE // APTOS , CALIFORNIA
