Celebrating America: Village of Lyons fourth of July parade

in The Township of Lyons Chronicle

A smiling person dressed as Uncle Sam stands on stilts with their arms outstretched during a Fourth of July parade. He is wearing a tall red, white, and blue striped hat, a blue jacket, a white vest, red-and-white striped pants that cover the stilts. He is in front of a brick building and it is cloudy outside.

                                                                                                                                                                                               Photo credit: Breane Barrios

By: Breane Barrios – Staff Writer

On the Village of Lyon’s annual Fourth of July parade, many took to the streets to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America despite the dark clouds threatening to rain. Multiple local businesses lined the streets and a free lemonade stand, run by a group of kids, was hosted nearby and took donations. The parade also featured hired entertainers, community organizations, and other participants who tossed candy into the crowd.

Many veterans came out and participated in the parade. Honoring them was a key part of celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

“I have a lot of military family members, and I think it’s awesome to be able to celebrate the country we live in and appreciate those who fight for it,” said Joie Allen, an independent circus performer at the parade.

Performer balances inside a Cyr wheel during a Fourth of July parade
Performer walks through the parade while balancing on a Cyr wheel.

The parade itself impacts and highlights small businesses and communities, holding a particular significance for a lot of participants and residents of Lyons. From community programs to new performers, being featured in the parade holds many different meanings to others.

In an interview with David Lopez, president of the Mustang Youth Football and Cheer program, he explained what being in the parade means to him:

 “Being part of the community, getting some exposure, letting the kids be proud of who they are and what they’re doing means everything to us,” Lopez said. “Letting the community know that we have these programs for the kids and that they’re open to everyone, we don’t turn away anyone here.”

The parade included entertainment for younger audiences, ranging from circus performers to youth sports. Performers were either part of a larger group or independent and had multiple different acts. Performers are able to find passion in their work while also bringing an impact to the community. 

“[The circus is] something that’s super nostalgic,” Allen said. “I feel like the idea of traditional tent circuses has phased out, so it’s nice to bring it into the community.”

Eliana Payne, a freelance circus performer, is also a first-year participant in this year’s parade.  

Stilt walker in a blue costume waves while performing in a Fourth of July parade.
Eliana Payne poses for a photo while walking in the parade on stilts (Photo credit: Breane Barrios).

“Being here with all the small towns is so fun,” says Payne, “It’s a really impressive Fourth of July experience, and I’m really [happy] to be a part of it.”

With the event coming to a close as the clouds rolled in, the crowds were still happily chatting as they dispersed, celebrating the rest of the events in the park before the rain came down in the evening.

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