Parades
The idea of a parade began when four men decided a special event should be organized to precede the Indianapolis 500 car race. They only had two months to get everything in place. They were on a limited budget, and wanted the event to be family oriented. Today, the Indianapolis 500 parades ranks among the top three parades in the United States. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses are the only two parades with a higher ranking.
A parade is defined as an organized procession down a street accompanied by organizations, bands, and floats. Parades are held for a variety of reasons, but they are all considered celebrations. Parades are held for victories, to honor individuals, as part of a community event, and to celebrate holidays. The parade of lights is a parade held at night, generally soon after Thanksgiving. It is to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. People can be seen lining the streets as the sun goes down, dressed warmly with hot drinks in hand.
Floats are a staple of American parades. The name stems from the first floats being decorated barges. Today they generally consist of a trailer pulled by another vehicle. Parades often hold competitions for the best floats. Some of them are very original and take a lot of work to complete.
Parades are fun filled events, lasting from a few minutes to several hours depending on the area and the type of event being celebrated. People of all ages come to parades to watch the entries, enjoy the light hearted atmosphere, and visit with others. Often parades are followed by other events including bazaars, craft shows, ball games, and car races.
