Neighborhood parade makes for festive Fourth for Marine Drive residents
Clara Ruddle and her sister Julia Cable handed out red roses to onlookers who watched from their front lawns as over 100 residents of Bremerton's Marine Drive marched north in the neighborhood's annual Fourth of July parade on Monday.
Children in red, white and blue outfits rode on their decorated scooters, bikes and wagons from the entrance of West Marine Drive to the northern terminus of Marine Drive and back. Their parents and grandparents, also decked in Fourth-themed decor and holding coffee-filled mugs, walked with them. Other residents marched while walking their dogs, which donned American flag-themed collars and ran with other dogs in the chill wind.
Kim Ingham, who lives on Marine Drive, began the parade in 2018. A member of New Life Church, Ingham said she felt inspired to create the parade by messages for residents to know and love their neighbors better. She also wanted her children to make fond memories of their Marine Drive neighborhood, she added.
"I feel like our goal was met," she said, as more Marine Drive residents arrived to the start of the parade. Every year, Ingham said, she and her husband meet more of their neighbors.
Kim Ingham's sons Deegan Ingham, 11, and Beck Ingham, 13, both said they adore the parade and were decked in Fourth of July gear. Beck Ingham wore reflective sunglasses, an American flag T-shirt and a wide-brimmed straw hat with American flag colors peeking from underneath.
Deegan Ingham, who donned a flag around his shoulders, rode in the parade on a bike he had decorated with red, white and blue streamers and a bow at the front. During the parade, he blasted bubbles out of a bubble gun.
"You get to see your neighbors, make friends and have fun," he said. "I really enjoy it."
The parade occurred even in 2020 and 2021, when most larger events in Kitsap were canceled. Deegan Ingham said those years drew the biggest crowd to the street, with his estimate of parade attendees nearing 300.
To market the parade, Kim Ingham said she and other co-planners put up small street signs on the corners of blocks, sent postcards and announced the details on the neighborhood Facebook group.
Ruddle and Cable — both covered in red, white and blue balloons and streamers — said this year's parade was their first. Ruddle was visiting Cable for the Fourth of July, and supporting the parade seemed a great way to spend their morning.
"As you get older you appreciate the holidays a lot more," Cable said.
"And really," added Ruddle, "we just want to see everybody smile."
Other celebrations underway
As the festivities of the Marine Drive celebration subsided, other Kitsap celebrations were just beginning.
The Stars, Stripes and Smiles 2022 celebration in Kingston opened to the public at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club. Inflatable houses, food trucks and vendors lined the edges of the Village Green Park throughout the day. The parade began at noon, running from Lindvog Road to Washington Avenue. A firework show was scheduled for 10 p.m. at Mike Wallace Park.
Food and vendor stands opened Monday morning at 10 a.m. at Marina Park, followed by live music at 4 p.m. Fireworks were scheduled for 10 p.m. over Sinclair Inlet, with viewing areas at the Bremerton and Port Orchard waterfronts.
The Grand Old 4th of July event returned to Bainbridge Island on Friday with a four-day celebration, beginning with an evening art walk. On Monday, celebrations began with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast followed by a car show and street fair at 9 a.m. The parade completed the four-day festival at 1 p.m. at Madison Avenue and Winslow Way.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Neighborhood parade kicks off July 4th for Marine Drive residents
