In a summer that feels more like spring, the nation’s birthday fell on a surprisingly warm and clear day that heralded a spectacle on the streets and in the parks of Lakewood. In the morning, Lakewoodites lined the streets from Kenneth to Belle on Lake Avenue to watch the annual 4th of July Parade. There were over 80 different entries in the approximately hour and a half long parade.

“It was longer this year,” said Heidi Paul, a Lakewood resident who worked for Music Boosters. “I loved the parade, I always love the parade.”

With the number of entrants, it seemed as though anyone who wasn’t excitedly grasping for candy was marching in the parade. In fact, there were so many candy enthusiasts that many entrants tossing candy ran out by the time they reached Belle Ave. One entrant, LEAF Community, was even throwing produce.

There was something for everyone, from floats to smiling faces to a parade of motorcycles and cars. Lakewood sports teams drew cheers and there was music provided by several groups including the LHS Ranger Marching Band and the Red Hackle Pipes and Drums from Cleveland. Churches and political organizations also took the opportunity to share their message with the community during their long trip down the stretch of Lake.

After the parade, the crowd dispersed and Lakewood Park was crowded with onlookers and those eager to check out any remnants of the elaborate displays and floats from the parade. Booths were set up to sell refreshments like snow cones and “99.10 cent” water. Many of the groups that were present in the Parade took the opportunity to establish themselves in these booths. One of the booths was designed to continue spreading the word about the Lakewood Walk and Roll. Lois Moss, the previous owner of Century Cycles in Rocky River, was selling T-Shirts and handing out yard signs hoping for the same success that her organization had in Cleveland last year. “I love the little set up they have here,” she said of the unique green booths. “[The parade] was spectacular. It’s so hometowny.”

Other than the parade in the morning and the Lakewood Project concert and fireworks at night, residents spent their 4th of July in a variety of ways.

“I did a lot of cleaning,” said Roxana Bell. “I went to a really good barbeque and had hot dogs, baked beans, and deviled eggs. We’ll be eating s’mores later over a pit fire.”

“I spent [my 4th of July] here on a beautiful day,” said Trish Hendy who works year round with the Lakewood Project during one of the breaks in the Lakewood Project’s concert in the park.

Some people, like Michael Patterson, worked for a good portion of the holiday. “I went out and I worked for Congressman Kucinich at the parade,” said Patterson in short break from his evening rounds. “I went to a barbeque with some friends and I’m working tonight.” He and others also working on behalf of the Congressman were hopeful that he would make an appearance at that evening’s concert, which he eventually did.

Arguably the busiest people in the park were Congressman Dennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth who spent the day visiting the Greater Cleveland Area. They attended the Parma parade and caught the end of the one in Lakewood. Congressman Kucinich then spoke at an Olmstead Falls Community Park.

“We watched the HBO program on John Adams,” said Kucinich. “It was great to watch it on the 4th.”

They began and ended their day in Lakewood as they appeared and greeted residents during the Lakewood Project concert.

“They’re great,” said Kucinich. “We’re fans now and want to hear them play again.”

“I’m not impressed by much,” said Elizabeth Kucinich. “but I’m impressed by this.”

In fact, the Lakewood Project concert and subsequent fireworks drew at least as many people as the parade had in the morning.

“We truly enjoy playing with you,” said Beth Hankins to the crowd at the concert. “It’s so important to give students opportunities in music…it gives them such a drive.”

The Lakewood Project played its traditional repertoire with the added bonus of the middle school members of the week long Rock-On Camp. The younger students joined the Lakewood Project for two songs. With a good size crowd, the Lakewood Project played for at least two hours, most of them sporting sunglasses to compensate for the sunlight in their eyes.

“They’re always the best part,” said Bell. “They’re really passionate about their music and it shows.”

Several of their selections solicited strong cheers as did soloists. “I love it and the price,” said Jeanne Gregg of the concert. “We come every year.”

Not long after the concert ended around dusk, the long awaited fireworks display began. This year’s fireworks were sponsored by Iceland/USA, the company that now leases Winterhurst Ice Rink. They lasted about 35 minutes, which was slightly longer than in previous years.

 

The end of the fireworks was more jubilant than usual as onlookers whooped and hollered at the grandiose finale. The only things missing were the car alarms.

 

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Some of the Lakewood community entries in this year's 4th of July Parade:

Armed Services Representatives

VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Edgewater Post #387

Vietnam Vets Chapter #249

Disabled Vets Chapter #108

Disabled Vets Auxiliary

Knights Inc., Chapter #3

Motorcycle Vets

Lakewood High School Marching Band

Grand Marshall of Parade, Ken Warren

Mayor Edward FitzGerald & Family

Lakewood Chief of Police, Tim Malley.

Lakewood Board of Education in Red Schoolhouse

The Athletics, 2007 Champions

The T-Ballers

Gordon Geiger for Geigers

Judge Carroll and wife Bonnie

Lakewood Hospital employees

Winterhurst Ice Rink/ IceLand/USA

Division of Aging, Lakewood Dept. of Human Services

The Happy Walkers, Lkwd Division of Aging

Lakewood Fire Department trucks

Girl Scouts Troop #1664

LHS Cheerleaders and football player and coach

St. James Church 100th Anniversary

Friends of Madison Park

Mary Louise Madigan, councilwoman

AXA advisors

Brennan’s Floral & Gift Shop

Lakewood Early Childhood PTA/ LECPTA

YMCA

Kiwanis Club of Lakewood

Key Club and Builders Club

The Beck Center with cast of “Altar Boyz”

BPO Elks Lodge #1350 of Lakewood

Dennis Kucinich supporters

Cub Scouts Pack #68,

Barton Center 2008 Sweetheart Ursula Randolph

Papa John’s Pizza

LHS Girl’s Rugby Team

Halson Landscaping

Bike Lakewood

St. Edward H.S. marching band

Lakewood Democratic Club, councilman Tom Bullock, President of Dem Club

Calvary United Methodist Church

H2O Summer Service Camp

Lakewood Senior Health Campus

The Baha’i Faith of Lakewood

Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park

Boy Scout Troop #211

Lakewood Soccer

Lakewood Lutheran School

Lakewood Republican Organization

LHS Recreational Swim Team

TAFT School Unicycle Club

The Fuzion Martial Arts Center Karate Club

Burning River Rolling Girls

Donatos Pizza

Lakewood Pro-Life Coalition from St. Clements Parish

Great Lakes Truck Driving School

Girl Scouts Troop #505

Lakewood United Methodist Church group

The Troupe Benazir belly dancers

Roman Ricci hair salon, the first African American business in Lakewood

St. James Cub Scout Pack #70, Lkwd, Ohio

Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints

Donnelly Air Conditioning

Hospice of the Western Reserve

The Lakewood Observer

The Lakewood Motoring Society

Lakewood Earth and Food Community (LEAF) group

Pride of Cleveland Scooter Club

KRAZY KOPS

Pilgrim St. Paul Lutheran Church