Akron Fourth of July Parade Draws Large Crowd
Akron Carnegie Public Library led the parade to celebrate their 100 year anniversary.
The Fourth of July is a big, important holiday to the town of Akron. The town started celebrating the holiday on Thursday. Akron’s streets were filled with onlookers on Saturday as residents came out to celebrate with one of the weekend’s biggest events, the Fourth of July Parade.
The streets filled with sirens and lights at 11 a.m. as the parade kicked off. The parade lined up at State Road 19 and Front Street and headed down Pine and Rochester streets. Vehicles from the Mentone Police, Big Horn Fire and Rescue, Fulton County EMS, Rochester Fire Department, Burket Fire Department and many other departments led the parade.
This year’s Parade Grand Marshals were members of the Akron Carnegie Public Library staff and board. This year marks 100 years that the library has been operating. Members of the library staff braved the heat and dressed up in century old outfits to celebrate the anniversary.
Contestants and winners of Miss Fulton County, Miss Sparkler and Mr. Fire Cracker from 2015 and past years participated in the parade.
The area-famous Lily Pearl Square Dancing Tractors rode their tractors through the streets of Akron. Half of their performers dressed the part of females as the group made their way through the parade.
Many of the floats helped to join in celebrating the library’s anniversary. Hartzler Funeral Services celebrated the anniversary by bringing out their 1800s horse-drawn horse.
Tippy Valley High School Viking Guard brought up the end of the parade as they marched and performed for the crowds.
The end of the parade isn’t the end for Arkon’s Fourth of July celebration. The fun will continue with a Petting Zoo until 2:30 p.m. and carnival games lasting until 3 p.m both at Pike Memorial Park. The Akron Arts League Talent Show will start at 5 p.m. in the Akron Community Center. The night will end with the long-anticipated fireworks show starting at 10 p.m. The show will take place at Pike Memorial Park but the fireworks will be seen all throughout town.
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- Tippy Valley High School Viking Guard led the end of the 2015 parade while marching and performing.
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- DJ Skorchin’ Skooter made his appearance in the parade. He will be leading the dance party in Pike Memorial Park at 7 p.m.
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- Hartzler got in the anniversary spirit by bringing their horse-drawn hearse to the parade.
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- Members of Rochester Family Martial Arts sparred in the streets while the waited for the parade to move forward.
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- Earl Love Funeral Home encouraged the town to “open up your heart” with their Lorax themed float.
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- Young members of Akron Church of God threw candy into the crowd from their bus windows.
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- Lily Pearls Square Dancing Tractors participated in the parade with some of their members dressing up as the opposite gender.
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- Boys from the Akron Boy Scout Troop 3245 proudly sat on their float.
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- Miss Sparkler Addyson Thomas throws a piece of candy into the crowd as her float travels down the street.
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- Hanna Dalyrymple, second place runner up for Miss Akron Fourth of July Queen throws handfuls of candy to expecting children in the crowd.
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- Members of VFW Post 1343 of Rochester had a vehicle in the front of the parade to proudly display the American Flag.
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- Staff of the Akron Carnegie Public Library dressed up in historic outfits to celebrate their 100 year anniversary.
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- A curious boy looks out into the crowd as the fire truck he rides in rolls down the streets of Akron.
