The Town of Ashland will bring out the red, white and blue for its annual July 4th Parade and lawn party.

Showing its patriotic pride, the town will start celebrate with the parade kicking off at 11 a.m. Lineup is set for 10:15 a.m. The lawn party runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center at 500 S. Center St.

After the first Gulf War, according to Carolyn Peart, a group of citizens “thought we should do something to honor our soldiers and uplift America. The focus should be on children.” They agreed it should be a “low-key, no hassle, no stress event.”

Peart said they decided to hold a bicycle parade where children of all ages could decorate their bikes in patriotic themes. The parade would be followed by a party at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center.

This year, the route returns to its original starting point: Henry Clay Elementary School and then turns east on Hanover, turns right onto Duncan at the fire station, turns left onto Myrtle, then right at the tracks, goes past the Hanover Arts and Activities Center and ends at Stebbins.

In the last four years, Peart added, the number of spectators and parade participants has quadrupled. “The police department and parade officials estimate we had 400 parade marchers and 2,400 spectators in 2008,” she said.

Explaining why Ashland’s July 4 celebration is a “do not miss” event, Peart said it is because it “is community gathering at its finest. We start with this glorious non-motorized parade full of citizens of all ages, led by a color guard of high school students.

“We have hundreds of children on bikes, walking, in wagons ; red, white and blue streamers trailing behind as they pedal furiously with the biggest smiles on their faces as the crowd cheers them on; we have dozens and dozens of freshly baked apple pies entered in the Best Pie contest; we have a huge Basset Brigade — this is a day chock full of good feelings, smiles, neighborly conversations. It is ‘Americana’ in all its glory.”

Themed brigades help make the Ashland event unique, offering funny and serious tones. “The lawn chair brigade is always a crowd-pleaser, where a group marches with lawn chairs and perform various routines along the parade route. We have a bassett brigade, a doggie brigade, the bike brigade, master gardener brigade, cheerleaders brigade.  This year we will have audience favorites from the Ashland Musical Variety Show. This year we will have Ashland’s Volunteer Fire Company Brigade using antique equipment which we have never had before,” Peart said. To organize a brigade, call her at 798-9131. She did say all brigades are approved at the discretion of the Parade Committee.

The day also includes: the Hanover County Band performing from 11:15 to noonish; apple pie winners being announced at noon with the pie auction immediately following; most patriotic pet awards at 12:15 p.m.; and children’s lawn games for kids of all ages and craft events starting after the posting of the colors and the singing of the National Anthem led by Patrick Warren, Ashland’s own Hanover Idol, around noon.

Participants in the apple pie contest must have their entries delivered to the HACC by 9 a.m. that day, with judging beginning at 9:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places; most patriotic; most original; and best child’s pie 10 years old and under. All entries must be homemade.

Patriotic pet awards will be presented for first, second and third places. Participants must report by 11:45 a.m. to the corner of Cox Lane (the street/parking lot by HACC).

The menu for the day includes: subs and Italian ice from Sandano’s, pizza from Pepicelli’s, hamburgers and hot dogs from Virginia Barbeque, two sno-cone vendors, and apple pie at the HAAC booth.

For more information, call Carolyn Peart at 798-9131 or visit www.hanoverarts.org or www.town.ashland.va.us.