A kazoo band with a tuba was among the traditional bagpipers and politicians who took part today in the Jersey Shore's version of Main Street Americana: the Ocean Grove Independence Day Parade.
The parade is to Ocean Grove what the St. Patrick's Day Parade is to Belmar: a highlight of the season and a major visitor-magnet. The promise of clear skies and temperatures around 80 also promised the kind of attendance that produces bumper-to-bumper parking along side streets and the occasional blocking of driveways. Spectators claimed their seats along the parade route early. More than an hour before the parade stepped off at Whitefield Avenue on the western side of town, Main Avenue was lined with beach chairs, lawn chairs, and even the kind of formal, upholstered wooden folding chairs seen in funeral parlors. The latter happened to be placed parallel to the curb in front of the Ocean Grove Memorial Home at the intersection of Main and Delaware avenues.
Some spectators brought pets as well as chairs (below).
Though the official crowd count was unclear, spectators lined the parade route four or five deep in some spots. Friendly shuffles arose as people stepped in front of each other to take photographs with cell phones.
Jeff and Nathanaya Simon, of Bradley Beach, were in a more open spot next to the reviewing stand near the Beach Office at the boardwalk end of Embury Avenue, which also happened to be the end of the parade route. Asked why they had chosen to watch from the end of the route instead of the beginning, Nathanaya Simon said, "We thought we'd be by the grandstand. They play the best music there."
Jeff Simon said he had a "more off-the-wall" reason: "I had hip surgery, and this was as far as I could walk from Bradley Beach."
Spirits were high as participants on floats or in cars or in the back of pickup trucks tossed wrapped candies to the children along the parade route. At least one provider 's supply ran low at Pilgrim Pathway and Maine, or around the mid-way point in the parade rout. "I only have two pieces," said a female first responder in the Neptune Township Emergency Medical Services vehicle. She tossed them.
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon also took part in the candy-tossing. Here she's seen between tosses.
The parade Grand Marshal was Dr. Dale Whilden, president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, who was accompanied by his wife, Carol.
This was the 44th edition of the parade, which historically showcases people and organizations within Ocean Grove. The practice continued this year with, among others, the Historical Society of Ocean Grove, the Beautification Committee, the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce, Nagle's Apothecary Cafe (below), and the Ocean Grove Auditorium Choir (second below), who sang while marching.
One of the largest parade contingents this year was from Day's. It was also perhaps the most unusual: a band that consisted of kazoos and one tuba (below), and a repertory of George M. Cohan patriotic songs.
Among the parade's more traditional elements were the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch, based in Red Bank (below), and antique fire engines like the one from the Goodwill Fire Company (second below).
The variety of marchers was rounded out by local, state, and county politicians. Among those were State Senator Jennifer Beck (R-11th), Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-11th), who stopped to wave (below), Monmouth County freeholders Tom Arnone and John Curley, and the Neptune Township Republican Organization (second below).
The parade is to Ocean Grove what the St. Patrick's Day Parade is to Belmar: a highlight of the season and a major visitor-magnet. The promise of clear skies and temperatures around 80 also promised the kind of attendance that produces bumper-to-bumper parking along side streets and the occasional blocking of driveways. Spectators claimed their seats along the parade route early. More than an hour before the parade stepped off at Whitefield Avenue on the western side of town, Main Avenue was lined with beach chairs, lawn chairs, and even the kind of formal, upholstered wooden folding chairs seen in funeral parlors. The latter happened to be placed parallel to the curb in front of the Ocean Grove Memorial Home at the intersection of Main and Delaware avenues.
Some spectators brought pets as well as chairs (below).
Jeff and Nathanaya Simon, of Bradley Beach, were in a more open spot next to the reviewing stand near the Beach Office at the boardwalk end of Embury Avenue, which also happened to be the end of the parade route. Asked why they had chosen to watch from the end of the route instead of the beginning, Nathanaya Simon said, "We thought we'd be by the grandstand. They play the best music there."
Jeff Simon said he had a "more off-the-wall" reason: "I had hip surgery, and this was as far as I could walk from Bradley Beach."
Spirits were high as participants on floats or in cars or in the back of pickup trucks tossed wrapped candies to the children along the parade route. At least one provider 's supply ran low at Pilgrim Pathway and Maine, or around the mid-way point in the parade rout. "I only have two pieces," said a female first responder in the Neptune Township Emergency Medical Services vehicle. She tossed them.
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon also took part in the candy-tossing. Here she's seen between tosses.
The parade Grand Marshal was Dr. Dale Whilden, president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, who was accompanied by his wife, Carol.
This was the 44th edition of the parade, which historically showcases people and organizations within Ocean Grove. The practice continued this year with, among others, the Historical Society of Ocean Grove, the Beautification Committee, the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce, Nagle's Apothecary Cafe (below), and the Ocean Grove Auditorium Choir (second below), who sang while marching.
One of the largest parade contingents this year was from Day's. It was also perhaps the most unusual: a band that consisted of kazoos and one tuba (below), and a repertory of George M. Cohan patriotic songs.
Among the parade's more traditional elements were the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch, based in Red Bank (below), and antique fire engines like the one from the Goodwill Fire Company (second below).
The variety of marchers was rounded out by local, state, and county politicians. Among those were State Senator Jennifer Beck (R-11th), Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-11th), who stopped to wave (below), Monmouth County freeholders Tom Arnone and John Curley, and the Neptune Township Republican Organization (second below).
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