The mission of the Northside Fourth of July Parade is to celebrate independence and to serve as a tool for community building. Parade organizers work to invite and involve people from all corners of the community as both participants and viewers. The parade offers a way to get to know one's neighbors through a shared light-hearted activity. Neighbors who know one another and have laughed together are more inclined to be involved and to make their neighborhood a nicer place to live. We invite everyone to join us and help celebrate the Fourth of July! The Northside Fourth of July Parade is sponsored by the Northside Community Council (NCC) and coordinated by the NCC’s Fourth of July Parade Committee. An Independence Day tradition since at least the 1950s, the Northside Fourth of July Parade involves 600 to 800 participants and over 3,000 attendees. The mile-long parade route is the longest in Hamilton County. The parade starts at the northern boundary of Northside and travels south on Hamilton Avenue to Hoffner Park, where the celebration continues with the Fourth of July Festival. In his recent book, Cincinnati’s Northside Neighborhood, Dann Woellert talks about the origins of the parade. In 1852, Archbishop John Baptist Purcell purchased the 11 acre tract of land that now includes the firehouse on Blue Rock, the New Chase School, and the McKie Center in what was then Cumminsville. This property was purchased by the church from Jacob Hoffner with the intention of relocating the Sisters of Charity’s orphanage from the downtown site near St. Peter in Chains. The new facility, St. Joseph Orphanage, was completed in 1854 to house 100 boys and, in 1855, began to also house girls. The actual move was made on July 4, 1854. The women and children rode the canal boats on what is now Central Parkway and the men marched alongside under the direction of Captain Robert Moore. The procession was made up of members of the Turners, the Oddfellows organization, the Butchers association, the Bricklayers Society, and the Catholic Orphans Society. The parade became an annual event which, combined with a festival, served as the major fundraiser to ensure the continued operation of the orphanage. This tradition continued until 1960, when St. Joseph’s Orphanage again relocated to their new location, St. Joseph Villa in Green Township. After a six year hiatus, the parade was restarted in 1970 by a community group which called itself GAIN, for “Getting Active in Northside”. It has been an annual event every July 4th for the 40 years since then.
Northside Fourth of July Parade Grand MarshalsThe parade is led by a grand marshal selected for his or her contributions to the community. Parade entries include veterans groups, bands, civic groups, antique cars, local businesses and nonprofit organizations, and community members of all ages. Creativity is celebrated and encouraged through the Creative Parade Entries Contest. 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 199? Northside Fourth of July Parade Creative Parade Entries Contest Winners2009
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