Parent power and kid power propelled hundreds of marchers through downtown streets Monday for the annual July 4 Darien-Norwalk Push-n-Pull Parade, exhibiting Darien’s and Norwalk’s cutest patriots in the national colors.
The rules of the annual parade are simple: You can walk or ride in any kind of non-motorized, wheeled vehicle. At least one kid was on roller blades, many toddlers were in wagons, often resplendently furnished Radio Flyers, scooters were popular and there were bicycles.
I they had a \”Best Bonnet\” award …
All got behind an honor guard from the Darien VFW Post, which led the parade, followed by The Spirit of Black Rock Fife and Drum Corps of Bridgeport, local officials (more on who, below), town resident Joe Warren, dressed as Uncle Sam, and the winners of several contests for their parade gear (more on that, below).
Before the event, the paraders gathered in the parking lot at Goodwives Shopping Plaza, where they heard music from “Mary Ann Hall’s Music for Children and Beyond” — a children’s music school with classes at the Darien-Norwalk YWCA from fall through spring.
The crowd sang a patriotic song, heard First Selectman Jayme Stevenson issue a proclamation praising the Darien VFW for successfully and even seamlessly taking over the annual parade from the YWCA (which happened last year), and listened as the winners of the parade contests were announced:
- Most Patriotic Family: The Lane Family, with Caleigh, Chase, Connor and Tessa (a dog).
- Best-decorated Trike/Bike/Scooter: Van Osberg
- Best-decorated Wagon: Cara O’Malley
- Best-decorated Stroller: Max McGorty
- Most Original Decoration/Clothing: Wilson Family (with a space shuttle on a wagon, and a marcher dressed as the Statue of Liberty — see the attached video).
In addition to Stevenson, other local elected officials in the parade included State Rep. Terrie Wood, Selectman Susan Marks and Selectman Rob Richards.
Here’s what the parade looked like in pictures:
