The Woodlands gears up for Sweet Land of Liberty Fourth Parade

The South County Fourth of July Parade will take place from 9-10:45 a.m. July 4, beginning and ending at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, located at 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive.

The parade route is approximately 1.3 miles long, and the anticipated attendance is 20,000-25,000 people.

To enter the parade, fill out a parade entry form, available at 4thofjuly.org.

Various activities will be offered before the parades starts. Guests will be able to meet Darrel the Fire Juggler, Uncle Sam, clowns, Spiderman, Scooby Doo, Spongebob Squarepants, a stilt walker, a balloonist, a magician and more.

The Woodlands Concert Band will perform from 8-9 a.m. in Market Street's Central Park. The playing of the National Anthem will indicate the start of the parade.

The parade's grand marshal will be Sheriff Tommy Gage.

Announcers will be Nick Wolda, vice president of marketing and public affairs for The Woodlands Township, and Ramon Torres.

Judges will be Dr. Ann Snyder, president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands; Steve Sanders, CEO of Memorial Hermann Hospital; Jill Liccioni, general manager of Market Street; Ray Biggerstaff, publisher of The Villager newspaper; Chip Ray, executive vice president of corporate planning of CB&I; and Kelly Dietrich, president of the South County Fourth of July Committee.

There will also be a number of dignitaries in the parade, including Tommy Gage, Montgomery County sheriff, grand marshal; Congressman Kevin Brady; Nelda Blair, chairman of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau; Bruce Tough, chairman of The Woodlands Township; Peggy Hausman, director of The Woodlands Township; Jeff Long, director of The Woodlands Township; Judge Mary Ann Turner, County Court at Law 4; Craig Doyal, county commissioner Precinct 2; and Councilmember Gary Henson, City of Shenandoah.

Also present will be the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

A tent for seniors and physically challenged individuals will be set up in front of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Lake Robbins Drive.

Parking will be available in lots along the parade route.

Volunteers to help at the parade are still needed. For more information, call 281-210-3975. Volunteer orientation will be at 6:30 p.m. July 2 in The Woodlands United Methodist Church parking lot.