LAKEHURST – It was a bit hot on Independence Day but residents and visitors shook off the heat as they lined up along Union Avenue to watch this year’s Fourth of July parade.
The annual car show kicked off earlier in the day lining up along areas of the street and filling parking lots and a side street near Lakehurst Elementary School and Lake Horicon.
The parade featured a long line of emergency vehicles from not only the borough but nearby Manchester Township several fire trucks from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts tossed out candy and special patriotic items to children watching the parade. Some of the vintage cars also rode along the parade route – one with a large stuffed animal tiger sitting in the back.
Small American flags were distributed to spectators so they had something to wave as marchers, bicyclists and various vehicles came down the parade route.
As for this year’s car show, vintage vehicles of varying size, shape, model and age were on display and there were numerous trophies handed out to the winners of the show by day’s end. Promoters of other car shows came out to check out the action and put out fliers for their own future event.
Lake Horicon was the place to be on the evening of July 3 for a pyrotechnic display. Fireworks lit up the sky and a large crowd came out to enjoy them.
Spectators at the parade and attendees of the car show knew what the occasion was all about as most wore some variation of red, white and blue attire.
Sporting a red, white and blue shirt featuring stars and stripes on Independence Day was Mayor Harry Robbins who greeted members of the community along with members of the borough council that afternoon. “It’s a hot one today but so many people have come out here today to enjoy the day. It makes for a great family event each year.”
The mayor was entering the elementary school which offered a little shelter from the heat and the opportunity to purchase some tickets for gift baskets that were raffled off later in the day.
Councilman Jim Davis who coordinated the car show couldn’t have been happier with the turnout and how everything went during the busy July 4 holiday.
Councilman Brian DiMeo was cooking up cheeseburgers and hot dogs at an organization table early on in the day and they were selling despite it being well before 11 a.m.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand was pouring out cups of some of their popular beverage for the crowd that was eager to quench its thirst during the humid day.
Also pouring out some delicious lemonades were members of the Lakehurst Presbyterian Church who drew quite a crowd before and after the parade. They offered free cups of ice-cold home-made lemonade, some patriotic items for children, cookies and baked goods and some words of encouragement in front of their church. The church was inviting people to come to their Sunday services and upcoming special events.
The Fourth of July wouldn’t be complete without an ice cream vendor and Mister Softee was selling popsicles and ice cream cones with a long line around 10 a.m. to those who felt it is never too early to have some ice cream on Independence Day. Others beat the heat with a swim in Horicon Lake.
