By any measure, yesterday’s 116th Glenside 4th of July Parade was resounding success. Anyone who thinks that parades in general have outlived their relevance has never attended this one.

Under a beautiful summer sun and sky (with just a tiny threat of rain), the parade went off without any apparent hitch. At one point, an EMT unit did jump the line responding to an actual emergency, but in general, the residents and onlookers were treated to a broad swath of community representation — with a few surprises.

The procession included the traditional display of fire equipment, candy-tossing pols, and marching bands. Plus, in the Delaware Valley a parade without Mummers is hardly a parade at all. Glenside had two Mummer string bands and another from the Shriners.

This year’s parade also included participants that celebrated the great diversity of this country, featuring the Falun Dafa, the Philadelphia Freedom Band, the Bronx Marching Cobras,  Philadelphia Caribbean Pan Stars Steel Orchestra, and in what might be saving the best for last, the Bolivian San Simon Filal Marching group!

GlensideLocal congratulates the Glenside Patriotic Association for putting on a truly spectacular show.