Organizers of the annual Wantagh Fourth of July Parade are hoping for a huge turnout when the community celebrates America’s birthday this coming Wednesday morning.
The parade will assemble behind at 9:30 a.m. with step off scheduled for 10 a.m. The parade path begins on Park Avenue and heads north on Wantagh Avenue to Island Park Road where it heads east to Beech Street.
"Nothing is quite like the view on Wantagh Avenue when you see everyone coming out of their homes and sitting on beach chairs or blankets all lined up to see the parade," said Fred Parola of the Wantagh Fourth of July Association, which is organizing the parade. "The success of this parade is attributed to parade coordinator Lorraine Rhoads, who has worked tirelessly to enlist and synchronize all the marchers and floats that walk through Wantagh’s streets in celebration of our country's birthday for all these years. From the smallest to the finest, Wantagh's parade makes a hit in this community.”
The parade will end at but not before passing by a panel of judges that await them in the show mobile that's parked along side the Wantagh Railroad Museum. Part of the ceremony at the elementary school is the announcement of the winners of the awards ranging from the most patriotic to the most creative floats as judged by this panel.
The ceremony will conclude with the crowning of the new Miss Wantagh, whose pageant is taking place June 29 at the Auditorium. The pageant, which is coordinated by Ella Stevens and Donna Hartofilis, has been a hit with the community for more than 50-years.
