Can you believe it? The Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce is bringing back a real parade in 2021. I was just as disappointed as you in 2020 when COVID-19, and the Global Pandemic, forced us to go with an alternative, virtual, parade. It may have been a virtual parade but the fun we had planning it was real. I was so thankful to Freeport McMoRan, The Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire Department and Mr. Reubush and his Vintage Iron Tractors for their fantastic video entries. We were thankful for the sponsorship and support of The Public Service Company of New Mexico for their involvement. Without the hard work of Lesliette Quesada and Laura Larisch, from the Silver City Consolidated School District, last year's event would have been a dud! Instead it went off without a hitch and we hoped for the best in 2021.
As we speak, the planning for the real, live, in-person, not-virtual, Independence Day Parade is going full force. The theme for this year is, "Honoring our Heroes" and will give us a chance to recognize those individuals who have made a difference in Grant County, New Mexico USA during the pandemic and over the past century. Shoot me a message at director@silvercity.org or on Facebook at SCGCChamber and tell me who your favorite hero is. I'd love to hear from you.
The parade route is slightly different from the past. We expanded the route so that we can be ready to cover all the events that will happen on that day. The Kiwanis Club will hold their traditional breakfast at the start of the parade as well as their fabulous brisket lunch. They will be located at the north end of the Makers Market on the Main Street Market Plaza, but you won't need a map to find them… just follow your nose.
The Silver City Museum will hold a, modified, Ice Cream Social after the parade is over so make sure you ramble over there and have dessert with Bart Roselli and all our friends at the museum. I hear it is going to be great!
This year, the biggest difference you will notice about the Independence Day Weekend is that we have opted to hold a Street Festival around the Arts & Culture District around downtown Silver City rather than the event in Gough Park. There has been a great deal of planning and discussion for the reasons for this change but, please understand that, the main reason for this change is so that we can fully accommodate all of the people who will be visiting Silver for the fourth.
There have been many questions swirling around about why we are having the parade on Saturday, since the 4th is on Sunday and that's the day that the Town of Silver City will be shooting off the fireworks. An event covering two days of the weekend will make for a really fun weekend. We hope you will agree.
If you are a food or product vendor, I invite you to register for a vendor space in The Independence Day Parade and Street Festival in Downtown Silver City. You bring the products and we'll bring the crowd. We invite civic groups, nonprofits, military and special interest groups to get involved this year. All you must do is call the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce at 575-538-3785 for information. Finally, I want to invite your school group to join in the parade and weekend festivities. When I was a kid, playing for the Rattlers of the Copper Little League, it was fun to walk in the parade and show the crowd just how great our Little League Team was. I encourage you to do the same.
Frankly, we are looking at this Independence Day Weekend as our Grand Re-opening and we invite you to join us. You have worked so hard to make sure that Grant County is a fun, safe, place to live and work and this will be a great time to let loose and have fun! I'm looking forward to it! Aren't you?