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Brandon celebrates with a parade and a blast

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By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: July 3, 2009

BRANDON - Thousands of spectators will lug lawn chairs and carry coolers bright and early Saturday to claim a shady spot along the route of Brandon's annual Fourth of July Parade.

The parade, dubbed United We Stand this year, kicks off at 10 a.m. at Lumsden Road and Parsons Avenue. It then heads north on Parsons to Robertson Street, turns west on Robertson and ends in the parking lot of the Publix on Buckingham Place.

Brandon's new honorary mayor will be announced at the start of the march by the event organizers, The Community Roundtable.

The mayor and the roundtable's Father of the Year, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Marshall Ecklund, will ride in the procession along with a colorful assemblage of more than 100 participating groups, including Shriners, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, veterans, politicians, businesses and clubs.

The party continues into the night at Westfield Brandon mall, home of the Brandon Blast fireworks show and Rock, Rib & Ride Festival.

Games, music, food, fun and prize drawings start at 10 a.m., and the fireworks fly at 9 p.m. Proceeds from the two-day event benefit the Brandon Community Foundation.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 627-4767.

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