The city of Montgomery has been starved of the traditional group gatherings for more than a year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but now that the virus' danger is dropping, the Cincinnati suburb finally is ready to get back to what it does best: provide fun for the entire family.
“We’re really excited about it. It’s time to get back to having fun this summer, and I think people are hungry for it,” Amy Frederick, Montgomery communications and engagement coordinator, tells CityBeat.
Montgomery’s Independence Day celebration begins with a parade on July 3 that has happened every year since 1975, with the city even hosting a “reverse parade” during the coronavirus pandemic, Frederick says. 2020’s reverse parade consisted of people driving in their own cars to remain socially distanced, which allowed the city to continue its annual tradition.
This year, Montgomery will kick off its Independence Day bash at 10 a.m. July 3 with the parade, which is scheduled to have 61 units marching and rolling through the streets of Downtown Montgomery. The parade will feature groups such as the Sycamore High School Marching Band.
“The parade is a chance for people to get back to having fun,” Frederick says. “After last year, a lot of us spent a lot of time in our houses, so this is a chance for us to get back and get back safely.”
Immediately following the parade will be a festival, scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Montgomery Park. The celebration will host food booths that include Donatos pizza, Graeter’s ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs and a beer vendor, Frederick says. Visitors can enjoy live music from Eden, a historical scavenger hunt throughout the park and children’s crafts like decorating a patriotic owl or kite. The Little League All-Star Game will also take place during the jamboree.
“I am really looking forward to bringing my family out and having a great time,” Frederick says. “The enthusiasm of children watching the parade and activities… It’s just a time to get outside again, and I think (we) all missed that.”
Learn more about Montgomery's July 3 celebration.
