Parade Floats Showcase Creativity And Pride

By Ellen Kinsella

Floats are the whipped cream of any parade… and maybe the cherries on top, too. They add color, flavor, and personality to an already festive event. Severna Park has always demonstrated great pride with its Fourth of July Parade floats, and this year’s exhibition was no exception.

The 2011 theme was “Salute to Patriots of Liberty.” Businesses, clubs, teams, and other organizations started securing their spots with the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce beginning in the spring.

Severna Park Elementary School went all out this year with their float to commemorate two important milestones: 160 years since land was deeded to build a school on the property, and 75 years since the construction of the current school. They have been researching their history for the anniversary and wanted to celebrate their legacy in the parade.

Parent volunteer Lori Glebocki was in charge of the school’s float decor. The display featured a retired vintage fire truck with a 300-gallon water tank and very long ladder, all decorated with handmade banners and glittery, patriotic, garland.

SPES volunteer Jane Seiss explained that wasn’t always the plan. “Originally we were going to have a small group of walkers and bikers, but when our school media specialist, Laurie Levitt, heard about our plans, she offered to join us with her husband, Bill, and their 1983 vintage fire truck,” she said. This fire truck had never before been used in a Severna Park parade.

The Harrington family – Neal, Eileen, Sean, and Ryan – also came forward to offer the use of their convertible. The new SPES mascot, Boone the Bobcat, joined them in the car, which was accompanied by bikers and walkers. The school’s PTA sponsored the decorating and donated many hours of labor.

Local producer/writer/broadcaster John Tegler of Wings Productions satisfied the crowd’s auditory cravings with a live jazz band on his float, composed of a tenor sax, trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums. In keeping with the Liberty theme, Tegler took his own liberties with his float, extending the logic that George Washington was a fan of jazz music, thus having a “real” George Washington on board.

“People say, ‘Hey, what?’” explained Tegler. But his response is, “His favorite composer was Bach, who is known as the first jazz musician!” Colonial re-enactor, David Smith, who was costumed authentically as George Washington, rode along with the jazz band and greeted the crowd.

Tegler’s float itself was composed of a flatbed donated by Severna Park Automotive, with banners and a USA flag on the back. Fishpaws Marketplace partnered with Tegler and gave hand-outs to the audience.

“We always wanted to be part of the parade,” explained Kim Lawson of Fishpaws. “But July Fourth is such a busy day for us, so I was happy to partner with John.”

Another entry of note, Gene Lilly Pools and Spas produced a float that was everyone’s fantasy: It contained a swimming pool and hot tub. As a first-timer at the parade, Gene Lilly VP Stacy Benning was very excited to produce the float with the help of a crew of employees. “We named our float ‘Work Hard, Play Hard,’” she joked.

When Benning told her spa supplier, Jim Bright of Riviera Hot Tubs, about the float idea, he helped her execute the plan. The float had two bikini-clad girls in a real spa on the back, plus two more bikini girls in a raft in the middle – as if in a pool. Towering above the pool and spa was a lifeguard stand on the front of the float, complete with a handsome lifeguard! Everything was red, white, and blue, and the participants blew bubbles and handed out candy to the crowd.

Chartwell Country Club, celebrating its 50th anniversary, entered a decorated dump truck-pulled float. “It was the first time we’ve done a float in a long time,” commented Chartwell COO Tad Peel. “So our anniversary seemed like the right opportunity.” Peel hoped to accentuate the neighborly feel and family orientation of the Club.

Featuring a golfer, tennis player, and swimmer, all in athletic wear, the float exemplified some of the activities available to members. Volunteer Susan Wells chaired the float committee.

Some of the other floats that “wowed” the crowd included James Parker Photography, Navarre Creative Solutions, Coldwell Banker, Brian Boru, Round Bay, North Severna Park Community Pool, and a float by Dance Explosion featuring several dancers.

Many long, hot hours of hard work went into these creations, but the satisfaction and sense of community they brought made it all worthwhile according to participants.

To see more pictures of the Severna Park parade, visit our photo gallery.