The annual Independence Day parade marched Thursday evening in the city, starting off the holiday weekend festivities with patriotic pageantry.
The parade kicked off from Lockport High School and continued north along Locust to Walnut Street.
About 50 units signed up to participate, including a Niagara County bicentennial unit composed of Old Fort Niagara fife and drum corps and musket-firing re-enactors, a horse-drawn carriage from “mother town” Cambria, an antique fire truck from Sanborn Company, the first air-conditioned car by General Motors and bicentennial committee members in period dress.
Other participants included the Tonawanda Clown Band; Lockport Community Band; Thorold, Ontario, Pipe Band; a Dixieland band; baton twirling units; six area fire companies and their trucks; two Red Hat Society contingents; the leads of West Side Story from Historic Palace Theatre; Lockport Rage football team; Middleport Rod & Gun musket shooters; Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home with horse-drawn and other old-fashioned hearses; American Legion Post 410’s Road Runner color guard; candidates for political office; and “Batman.”
The holiday weekend continues with fireworks and music Saturday at Outwater Park. Once again, the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas is set to perform at 7:30 p.m., and food and beverages will be available from 6 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 10 p.m.
