Kenilworth Parade: Men in hats
The parade has oddities: children rising in balloons; politicians with elephants; men in tiny cars.
The Kenilworth Independence Day Parade is the oldest and largest July Fourth land parade in Louisiana, and one of the better reminders that a community can turn its streets into mischief and merriment.
In 1973, the parade started on a lark: a few residents riding lawnmowers and bicycles on Bromley Drive, handing out cold beer from a keg, with children falling in behind them and making noise on musical instruments.
The celebration has grown into 45 entries this year, including Cub Scouts, swim teams, politicians and the Knights of Columbus, whose float resembles the Santa Maria. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, the ebullient Republican who once dragged an elephant behind a trailer in the parade, won’t attend this year. Someone should bring the elephant anyway.
The most unusual sight, once again, will likely be the Acacia Chapter of the Shriners: grown men folded into customized go-carts and three-wheelers, wearing fezzes with tassels and throwing trinkets to the crowd. Beneath all that cheerful foolishness is the serious work of raising money for Shriners Children’s, a network of pediatric specialty hospitals across North America.
“They are definitely one of the more interesting groups we have in the parade,” said Paul Sicard, co-chair of the parade, a Kenilworth Parkway resident for more than three decades and a diplomat when asked about the parade’s oddest entry.
The parade itself has always been colorful. In earlier years, hot-air balloons were staked on the Kenilworth school lawn and lifted children about 50 feet into the air, a practice likely ended by common sense or a neighborhood attorney on the civic association board.
Held July 3 at 6:30 p.m., the parade will draw about 10,000 people along its route. Join them: bring a lawn chair, something cold and fizzy, and a handheld fan, and cheer the grown men driving tiny cars for a good cause.
