Parade energy takes over downtown Marlow on the 4th

As the sun rose over Marlow Tuesday, there was a sense of calm. The trees lining the main thoroughfare of Broadway had their fresh annual coat of white paint thanks to the Outlaw wrestlers and Coach Andy Howington.

Twenty-nine American flags flapped back and forth in the slight breeze in front of the businesses along Main Street. Cars and pickup trucks filled every parking spot. There were no people to be seen.

A lone horse was tethered to his trailer in the parking lot at City Hall.

Soon the calm atmosphere became a bit more energetic as more horses arrived, and cars, lots of cars, mostly old ones. Flatbed trailers with floats arrived next. Still, Main Street remained relatively empty.

By 8:30 a.m. that changed. Behind the scenes along Seminole Street and Sixth Street, the little cheerleaders, young football players, ATV recreational drivers and others were putting finishing touches on their floats and vehicles. The classic car enthusiasts had all gathered for the big parade. Members of the Lions Club and Marlow Chamber of Commerce volunteers were handing out the official entry numbers. Trophies were being distributed.

The Marlow High School Outlaw Cheerleaders were gathered at Main and Sixth Street. Much more activity was happening on side streets away from Main Street. And the lone horse was not alone any longer. More horses and their riders had taken over the City Hall parking lot.

And Main Street was crowded with thousands of spectators. Children were dressed in patriotic red, white and blue outfits. They held their plastic bags for the candy they would soon collect off the street, courtesy of the parade entrants.

Masonic members, Terry Tate, D. Cocheran and Duane Plant were staged at the gazebo giving out free snow cones in flavors of cotton candy, grape, cherry and pineapple. Tate said the gave out somewhere between 300 and 400 cone cups and that cotton candy was the most requested.

Right next to the gazebo, Jim Coast had his fresh garden produce set up, farmer’s market style. Tomatoes are his favorite, he said.

Welcome to Marlow’s Independence Day celebration.

Joe Ligon announced each entrant as they passed by the Lion’s Den. This year’s parade had 120 entries, possibly the largest in years. It started around 9 a.m. and ended about 10:15 a.m. Ligon had plenty of help too – Larry Johnson by his side, Kim Kizarr and Valerie Moore at the table and Chamber Director Destiny Ahlfenger. It was her first year to help oversee the parade. Everyone was having fun and keeping the parade moving along.

When it was over, the streets were lined with confetti, leftover candy and of course, the horses left their mark on the streets. The celebration moved to Redbud Park and Georgiea Motley with the Country Music Singers Association sang the National Anthem. Allison Arms, Keith Manns, Shelby Ramsey, and others also sang.

New this year was the Mayor’s Car Show. It drew in 28 entries and both Mayor Jeff Prater and City Administrator Jason McPherson said that was a good turnout considering they had done little advance promotion. It generated $480, half of which went to the winner, Rocky Davis. The other half went to the Cinch program which is a round-up on utilities that residents can contribute to, which in turn goes to the Marlow Samaritans. They use it to help residents who show a need for assistance in paying their Marlow city utility bill.

Davis, 37, of Marlow, won the ‘bucket’ for his 1985 black and white Chevy shortbed truck that he’s owned since he was 16. “It cost $5 and was pulled out of a pasture. It’s probably got $80,000 in it now. The Street Outlaws did most of the work on it.”

The car show winner was tallied by how much they had in their donation bucket and votes were cast with anything from coins to $1 dollar bills and more.

McPherson and Prater both agreed that it will be a return event for next year. McPherson credited Ahlfenger with the idea. The intent is to bring more people to the park for the day. Donelle Gregston introduced a new event – yoga in the park, and she had about six or seven people participate. Even a few bystanders tried some of the poses.

There were 51 vendors, which included everything from food trucks to jewelry, stuffed animals and a dunking booth. The booth was to raise money for a church trip to Serbia. Coach Freddy Crowson was one of the willing dunk victims for the day and even little tots laughed when they thought they had dunked him.

Ending the day were the concerts by Arbuckle Xpress (headliner), and Zain Braden (opener), and the traditional fireworks in the park. This was the first time that the fireworks show was not handled by the Marlow Fire Department volunteers. A private company was contracted. There was only a 9-minute delay in the show due to the batteries dying in the ignition component, McPherson said. As for next year, now’s the time to start planning your floats, getting your cars ready and saving up your pennies for the children to have spending money in the park.

“Marlow showed up,” Ahlfenger said.