What doin' for 4 O' july?

[Freedom]

Our city has a concert and fireworks on the night before. We usually go to that, take chairs, buy some Italian sausage and peppers subs and sit and watch -- people and concert both.

Then on THE DAY, we watch the Bristol Parade on TV. It is the oldest continuous parade in the country! It is a really big event in our state. In Bristol where the parade is held, they restripe Main Street annually, with red-white-and blue in place of the double yellow lines. The parade is about 4 hours. You really have to know someone and go in the night before or stay at a hotel if you want to be present. And thousands are present each year; over 200,000 last year! We are happy to be comfy at home and watch all the fun on the TV.

http://www.july4thbristolri.com/home.html

Here is a good article from a few years ago, too.
http://usinfo.state.gov/scv/Archive/...07-375878.html

There are fierce competitions to be selected to be in the parade, by groups form all over the country.

Bristol has passed several laws in recent years to make the parade more friendly and family oriented. Example: you may NOT set up your chair curbside before 5:30 AM. Note: the parade doesn't even START until 10:30! Yup, this is a BIG deal, folks! Hope you all get to see it at least once in your lifetime!