Historic Fourths

UA Civic Association preps the annual patriotic party

By Lisa Aurand

Upper Arlington’s Independence Day, including its legendary parade, has been a tradition since the 1920s.

This year, the day starts with 7 a.m. bullhorn wake-up calls all over town, followed by the parade at 9 a.m. The evening celebration kicks off with Party in the Park at 5 p.m., and at 10 p.m., a fireworks display signals the day’s finale. Everything is sponsored and planned by the Upper Arlington Civic Association.

“It started with us and it will end with us, probably,” says civic association President Tony Callendar. “We save (the city) a bunch of money by doing it ourselves.”

The 2012 parade theme is Sweet Freedom’s Song and the parade grand marshal is Jeni Britton Bauer, owner and co-founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

One of the big draws of the parade is the collection of original floats created by local organizations, neighborhoods or groups of family and friends.

For more information on the Upper Arlington Independence Day celebration, visit www.uaca.org.

Lisa Aurand is editor of Tri-Village Magazine. Feedback welcome at laurand@ pubgroupltd.com.