Patriotism and Pride: KB’s 60th 4th of July Parade
Tony WintonJuly 4, 2019
A girl waves a red, white and blue streamer from a float at the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July Parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
Thousands waved, cheered, and grinned wide smiles in celebrating America’s birthday as well as historical milestone for Key Biscayne: 60 years of the island’s Fourth of July parade.
Kicking off with resident Isa Peña’s powerful rendition of the national anthem, four fighter jets screamed over Crandon Boulevard. They were followed with a colorful and sometimes loud series of marchers, dancers, drummers, stilt walkers – and a succession of sometimes zany floats.
Isa Peña sings the Star Spangled Banner to kick off 60th annual Fourth of July Parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
Fighter jets scream over Crandon Boulevard to start the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July Parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
With temperatures near 90, no one seemed to mind getting drenched with an occasional blast of water from a super-soaker.
There is no official crowd estimate, but Fire Rescue Chief Eric Lang the event typically draws in excess of 5,000. He said a girl was treated briefly for a heat emergency and released.
Parade goers cheer as marchers walk by during the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July Parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
As the colorful cavalcade progressed, at least one major political candidate waved to the crowd from a saddle: County Commissioner Daniella LevineCava, who rode with the South Florida Trail Riders. She is running for Miami-Dade County Mayor next year.
Miami Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava rides in the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourthy of July Parade, July 4, 2019. Cava is running for Miami-Dade County Mayor in 2020 (Key News/Tony Winton)
All the energy of parade watching was sustained by the cooking and serving work of the Key Biscayne Rotary Club. Police Chief Charles Press and Council Member Brett Moss grilled burgers and hot dogs, not seeming to mind the sweltering additional heat or the occasional puffs of smoke.
Key Biscayne Village Council Member Brett Moss is enveloped in smoke from a grill as he cooks hamburgers for the Rotary Club at the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July Parade (Key News/Tony Winton)
The Rotary says it sold out of its inventory of 700 burgers and an equal number of hot dogs. Cold drinks didn’t even last until the parade finish, organizers said.
Christine Wing, left, is served a hamburger by Daniela Pineros, a Rotary Club volunteer, at the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
A girl watches in amazement as dancers perform at the 60 annuual Key Biscayne Foruth of July Parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
The parade is supported by the Key Biscayne Community Foundation with some funding from the Village of Key Biscayne in addition to charitable donations and fundraisers
A marching band performs at the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July parade, July 4, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)
Grand Marshall Judi Koslen said the parade was a thrill.
“My favorite parts of the parade were throwing the Mardi Gras necklaces to all the little girls, seeing old friends, waving to everyone, then hopping onto the Save our Sisters float to finish the parade with my sisters. It was a wonderful day.”
Judi Koslen, the grand marshall of the 60th annual Key Biscayne Fourth of July Parade, waves waves to crowd, July 4, 2019)
The day capped with the annual fireworks display from a barge stationed opposite the Key Biscayne Beach Club, as thousands lined the shore. The show launched a few minutes early as officials worried about approaching storms. Radios crackled with a countdown — “three, two, one” — and the synchronized music and pyrotechnics went off.
Crowd watches fireworks display at the Key Biscayne Beach Park, July 4, 2019. (Key News/Tony Winton)
