Arlington 4th Of July Association

Entry Fee to be Charged for Arlington, Tx’s July Fourth Parade

Posted on | March 17, 2010 | Comments Off

Because of a dramatic drop in donations, participants in the 45th annual Independence Day parade will be charged a $25 entry fee for the first time.

The Arlington 4th of July Association, which usually has a $20,000 budget, is short about $10,000, association president June Owens said. This year’s parade, with the theme America: Yesterday, Today and Forever, is set for 9 a.m. July 3 in downtown Arlington, followed by a fireworks show after dark.

“We’ve lost several of our longtime sponsors. Consequently, we’re broke,” Owens said. But, she said, “The parade must go on.”

The association is seeking additional sponsors and donations for the parade, which in the past has had 150 entries. Some items that used to be donated, such as trophies and the small American flags given away to spectators, now must be purchased by the nonprofit association.

Owens said she doesn’t expect the new fee to affect the number of entries.

“I don’t think $25 is going to be enough to turn people away,” she said, adding that parade organizers in other cities charge entry fees. “The fact that we have never charged before is pretty exemplary. It’s really killing us to have to do it.”

The organization hopes that charging a fee will last only a couple of years.

“Then we can go back to being free,” Owens said.

This year’s parade is dedicated to America’s youth and will incorporate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, she said.

After the parade, the city’s second annual Light Up Arlington festival will begin downtown with music, vendors, food and fireworks. Country singer Melissa Lawson is scheduled to sing at 8 p.m. in a free concert at the Levitt Pavilion, across from City Hall.

Via: Star-Telegram

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