2021 Park Cities Fourth of July Recap

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PHOTOS BY: CHRIS MCGATHEY, IMANI CHET LYTLE, KATHERINE DAVIDSON, AND HANNAH HOPKINS

2B August 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com

REMINISCING RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

A

t this year’s Park Cities’ Fourth of July Parade, I had the honor of handing out goody bags — filled with fun and useful for holding candy — to paradegoers.

As I tugged my bag-filled wagon down Preston Road, I could not help but remember when it was my family EMILEA M c C U T C H A N camped out along the parade route in folding armchairs.

Growing up in Dallas, no summer was complete without star-spangled memories of the parade.

I remember wearing big red bows the size of my head (monogrammed with my initials in true Texas fashion) and turning my closet upside down to find a bag suitable enough to hold my candy. It was a thorough and painstaking process finding the right candy bag; I usually settled for one of my mom’s shopping bags from Lilly Pulitzer because they were pink.

At the parade, I marveled at the tinseled floats and competed with my twin brother to see who would collect the most candy.

Along with other kids, we chanted at the floats for more — a tradition I was happy to see continue.

My childhood self would be appalled that I did not help myself to the large boxes of candy on the float the morning of July 3 but rather focused on helping assemble and decorate the Park Cities People float.

Hearing the chants for candy and seeing big, monogrammed bows made me realize things have indeed come full circle: These children, too, marvel at the starry parade floats and compete with siblings and friends for the most candy, just like I did.

I smiled, thinking that I would be lumped in with their memories of the parade.

Being part of the parade and seeing happy smiles after this past year made me realize how important community events, like the Fourth of July Parade, are.

You get to see the entirety of your community condensed within a few blocks. Within one mile, I saw my former yoga teacher and a family I babysit for.

It was a stark contrast from last year, but a happy one, signaling normal, happier times ahead. I am glad I was able to help usher in not only happier times but fun summer memories through tugging along my wagon and handing out bags.

Emilea McCutchan, a graduate of Ursuline Academy, attends the University of Texas in Austin.

parkcitiespeople.com | August 2021 3B

4B August 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com

WE’RE BACK, TASTIER THAN EVER PRESTON @ ROYAL NOW OPEN 10720 PRESTON RD. | PRESTON @ ROYAL | 972-860-6500

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6B August 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com

Then and now.

We know your neighborhood.

THE RHODES GROUP

parkcitiespeople.com | August 2021 7B

8B August 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com