MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — City officials are planning for the return of the Morgantown Fourth of July Parade High Street.
The last time the parade occurred was pre-covid 2019. The years that followed featured musical performances at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater.
Mayor Danielle Trumble said the parade will begin at 4 p.m.
Trumble is the planner for the event and said she is excited to bring the community together. Her vision for the patriotic display is a mix of music, floats, and community organizations showing their pride and led by a group of bicycle riders.
“What better way to bring the community together for a celebration,” Trumble said Monday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “Parades are one of those small-town things that bring people out, talking and being together.”
BOPARC and West Virginia University have agreed to sponsor festive decorations, a place to gather, decorate, and kick off the event. July 4 falls on a Saturday this year, clearing out the schedule for many families to participate.
“Kids are going to be able to show up at the Mountainlair Green starting at 3 p.m. on the Fourth of July,” Trumble said. “The decorations and everything will be provided, and they’ll be able to kick off the parade down High Street on their bikes.”
Trumble said any group, organization, or club to participate in the return of the parade that will also mark the 250th birthday of the United States. The day starts with the parade down High Street, and then the crowd will move to the waterfront, where there will be music, food trucks and more family activities.
“I’m still looking for people that want to participate in the parade,” Trumble said. “If you have a group or organization that wants to march, walk, or ride on a float, reach out to me directly and I’ll get you a registration form.”
A few of the Morgantown groups dedicated to bicycling will help before and during the vent with decorations and the procession. When the parade gets to the endpoint on South High Street, residents will already see residents streaming to the waterfront for the second half of the celebration.
“A couple of the local bike groups are helping us out to lead that,” Trumble said. “We’re very excited; this will be a great day in downtown.”