John Scarffe, Coal Creek Canyon. The parking lot across from the Coal Creek Canyon Association was jam packed at 9:30 a.m. on July 4. Vendor tents including arts, crafts and a massage therapist filled the Association parking lot, where folks meandered about. Inside the Association building, breakfast was served, and the line stretched to the door.

The parade route ran down the dirt Gross Dam Reservoir Road to the Crescent Village Road, so cars and people with chairs and blankets lined the entire route of the parade. Coal Creek Canyon Cub Scouts led the parade starting at 10 a.m.

Canyon-sized horses followed and then a convertible with the parade marshal. A Coal Creek Canyon Fire Rescue truck carried a boy with a water pistol shooting those they passed. Another Fire Rescue vehicle threw candy.

The parade included several antique vehicles including a 1913 Mercer Raceabout, a 1927 Kissel Special, a 1910 Buick and a 1960 Corvette. A Camaro, Mustang and Ford Fairlane showed their stuff.

The Whispering Pines Church brought a float with large colorful animals advertising Vacation Bible School for July 22 to 26. The float included a small mountain, a large bird and a rhinoceros. 

A Fire Rescue truck with a hose watered down standers by, and two Cub Scouts played in the water until they were soaked. Seven Coal Creek Canyon fire trucks and rescue vehicles followed between a float with the Two Left Feet Dance Studio.

The Coal Creek Canyon Fire Department Ambulance and a Sun Source Solar Systems vehicle ended the parade at about 10:30 a.m. Those who parked along the Gross Dam Road then headed to the Coal Creek Canyon Association parking lot to enjoy the vendors and a barbeque lunch starting at 11 a.m. The event ended at 4 p.m.

Photos by Anne Scarffe.

Originally published in the July 11, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear. You can buy a low resolution, downloadable pdf of this paper at https://themtnear.com/product/2019-07-11/