Here's the scoop: Ice cream after the Hillcrest July 4 parade is the cherry on top

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·3 min read

It has been said that the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.

Coffee in your cup Monday morning was just fine. Even if it was coffee-flavored ice cream.

Scoop it before it melts. Ice cream fans found all sorts of flavors available after Monday's Hillcrest parade.
Scoop it before it melts. Ice cream fans found all sorts of flavors available after Monday's Hillcrest parade.

For the 26th year, the Hillcrest neighborhood held its Fourth of July parade. Afterward, by tradition, parade participants and those who cheered, hollered and waved flags and hands from curbs or under what shade could be found adjourned for ice cream.

Blue Bell and hand-churned containers were placed on long tables, along with cookies. Folks spooned in their favorite or tried something new, such as Strawberry Lemonade ice cream.

Anne Reno carries great-grandson Atlas Reno, 8 weeks, while granddaughter Harper Reno, 5, scooters along ahead of a fire truck during Monday's Hillcrest Fourth of July parade.
Anne Reno carries great-grandson Atlas Reno, 8 weeks, while granddaughter Harper Reno, 5, scooters along ahead of a fire truck during Monday's Hillcrest Fourth of July parade.

Robert Marion left with an empty freezer. His homemade Snickers ice cream - his wife Charlotte's favorite - was quite popular.

There seemed to be as many flavors as there are stars on the U.S. flag. Buckets of coffee, cookies and cream, strawberry, vanilla, of course, and Cookie Two-step were gone in short order.

The parade may be short, but it's never short on enthusiasm and red, white and blue. There are bagpipers, fire trucks, classic cars and lots of kids on decorated bikes.

Abigail Songer of Abilene carried the U.S. flag to lead Monday morning's Hillcrest neighborhood parade.
Abigail Songer of Abilene carried the U.S. flag to lead Monday morning's Hillcrest neighborhood parade.

Abigail Songer led the parade carrying the U.S. flag after delivering the Pledge of Allegiance. The homeschooler represented American Heritage Girls and is the first local girl to receive the organization's highest award, the Stars and Stripes Award.

The organizations is a "Christ-centered character and leadership development program for girls 5 to 18 years of age," according to its website.

On your way out, an Independence Day word search was available. It had been announced earlier that were a word for each letter of the alphabet, so find "patriotic" and, well, "ice cream."

The family of Tom Carpenter, left, enjoyed the view from a flatbed. Carpenter, 90, was this year's grand marshal for the Hillcrest neighborhood parade.
The family of Tom Carpenter, left, enjoyed the view from a flatbed. Carpenter, 90, was this year's grand marshal for the Hillcrest neighborhood parade.

Grand marshal was Tom Carpenter and his family. He is 90 and a longtime parade participant. Four generations of the Carpenter family were seen on a flatbed.

Also honored were parade organizers Star Ferguson and Melissa McClung.

And it you didn't know, it was Betty Hale's birthday.

Betty Hale celebrated her birthday with ice cream on the Fourth of July. At Hillcrest Church of Christ, so did everyone else after Monday's neighborhood parade.
Betty Hale celebrated her birthday with ice cream on the Fourth of July. At Hillcrest Church of Christ, so did everyone else after Monday's neighborhood parade.

She formed a zero with her fingers, and said that comes next year. She did not indicate which number will come before the zero in 2023.

In her other hand she held her dessert cup. Strawberry.

Perhaps that's why everyone was allowed to eat ice cream at 10:30 a.m.

Rules are suspended on birthdays, especially for a nation.

Marcus Anderson, wearing red, white and blue, waves while watching the Hillcrest neighborhood parade.
Marcus Anderson, wearing red, white and blue, waves while watching the Hillcrest neighborhood parade.

Freedom rains

Fireworks were expected Sunday evening.

The rain was not.

Used to rain teasing Abilene, few believed the 15% chance would come through. But it did.

Ten or so minutes before the scheduled start of the WesTex Connect fireworks show at Nelson Park, the wind picked up and rain fell.

Many dashed to vehicles, if those were close. Others just got wet.

Officially, Abilene received 0.09 of an inch as the storm, which produced some lightning as an added backdrop to the fireworks, quickly passed.

The fireworks show blasted off more or less on time, providing ooohs and aaahs for close to 30 minutes.

Flags were displayed everywhere at Monday's Independence Day parade through the Hillcrest neighborhood.
Flags were displayed everywhere at Monday's Independence Day parade through the Hillcrest neighborhood.

It was only 99 degrees Sunday and with the rain, a pleasant break from the 100s. Those were expected back Monday and for the rest of the week.

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. 

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Here's the scoop: Ice cream after Hillcrest July 4 parade is perfect