NEWBERRY — What started as a chance to give children a sense of patriotism has grown into a well-known event for Independence Day in downtown Newberry. This year’s annual Harper Street Parade will be held on Saturday, July 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Michelle Long, administrator for the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce said the inaugural Harper Street Parade was held on July 4, 2002.
“It was after 9/11 and Kirsten Lindsay thought we needed to do something for kids to let them be involved with Independence Day and do something patriotic,” Long said.
Lindsay, who lived on Harper Street along with her daughter and some of her friends decorated the first bikes and made their way down Harper Street for the very first parade.
“It’s grown each year since then,” Long said.
When the Lindsay’s moved from their home on Harper Street, Long, who’s family also lives on Harper informed the neighbors that moved into the Lindsay’s old house of what occurred on the fourth of July.
The refreshments had always been set up in the Lindsay’s yard following the parade at the end of the street. While the new neighbors had no children at the time, Long said they were very accepting of the long-standing tradition.
As years have passed, Long said it was not really a Harper Street thing anymore, but a community event.
“People come from all over to take part in it,” Long said. “Folks that live in Newberry and go to the lake on the weekends will come back just for the parade.”
Lineup for the parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the corner of Harper and Hunt Streets. Long said people just gather there anytime between 9-9:30 a.m.
The parade will proceed from that intersection down to 1725 Harper Street where the community has set up refreshments.
The refreshments are donated by those on Harper Street or by those in the community who want to get involved. Long said there is usually lemonade, water, cookies and brownies.
Every year, people bring items, Long said and every year there is always plenty. If anyone would like to donate any refreshments to the cause, Long said to bring them by 1725 Harper Street on July 4 by 9 a.m.
“It’s family friendly and geared towards the kids,” Long said.
Children decorate their bicycles, scooters and wagons for the parade and adults tend to decorate their golf carts, Long said.
Also at the end of the parade, a city of Newberry fire engine will be parked to spray water into the streets where children can play and cool down from the summer heat.
The number of golf carts in the parade have increased over the years and Long said they would encourage golf carts to continue down to Calhoun or Walnut Streets following the parade so traffic is not backlogged as children gather around the fire engine.
Campaigning is discouraged as a part of the Harper Street Parade as well as cars, trucks and actual vehicles for the safety of the children and families involved in the parade.
The morning’s events typically wraps up between 11:30 a.m. and noon, Long said. Once the firetruck stops its water spray, people start clearing out, she said.
“It’s a good time-frame because people tend to go have their family meals or whatever they’re going to do for the day,” Long said.
Long said anyone is welcome to participate in or come out to watch the parade Saturday. All of the side streets are barricaded and Long said many community members pull up to the barricades and watch the parade or will take a lawn chair into someone’s yard. Long said people were very welcoming in that respect.
Newberry County residents shared their thoughts with The Newberry Observer on the long-standing tradition of the Harper Street Parade.
Here are some of the comments we received:
Deann Shealy McManus: “The Harper Street parade may just be the best thing Newberry has going! The sense of community and commitment to children on that day is like no other in the city of Newberry. Or any other place in Newberry County. I cannot overstate how grateful I am to Michelle Long and to Kirsten Lindsay for making it the best tradition in Newberry!”
Dana Graham Long: “A tradition our family looks forward to each year!”
Heather Epting Berry: “It is the epitome of what living in a small town is all about.”
For more information and photos from previous parades, visit their Facebook page: Harper Street Bike Parade.