Seeking Horses, Clowns & Funny Cars
Pride in Park Parade planners
Planners of the 2nd Annual Pride in the Park Parade exude a bit of pride this year, their tone of experience still tinged with wonder at the parade’s inaugural success last year.
This year the parade committee of the Lexington Park Business & Community Association knows so much more: Where bands should assemble versus horses; how many permits are needed and who issues them; how often the color guard should march in place to allow the gymnasts to catch up. There are a lot of moving parts. It’s a parade.
“And everything has its pace,” said Robin Finnacom, head of the St. Mary’s Community Development Corp. which sponsors the association.
Still, the planners plot every couple weeks how to grow the parade. Reports this week indicate participation is on pace. Last year more than 600 participants filled the inaugural Pride in Park Parade and drew a crowd of more than 2,000. The committee is aiming for bigger numbers in both categories.
Committee members are scouring the region for horses, costumed mascots, marching bands, every and anything wanting to march, walk or roll in the parade. This year’s parade commemorates the 70th anniversary of the commissioning of the Naval Air Station: Patuxent River.
For information on joining the parade, or helping in some other capacity, call 301-863-7700.
Pride in Park parade staging area is plotted
The parade is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2013. “Step-off” is 10 a.m. from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department.
Already the map assembling the line-up presides over the committee meeting. The confluence of alleys and parking lots behind Raley’s Home Furnishings makes a staging arena. The asphalt extends to the fire department and library parking lots and includes the incomplete stub of FDR Blvd.
The parade route snakes through the staging area to exit FDR Boulevard between the library and fire house. Taking Shangri-La Blvd. toward Essex South the parade turns up Essex South toward Great Mills Road. At Checkers the parade turns and continues up Great Mills Road back to the alleyway along Raley’s to conclude in the same area as originally assembled.
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