Everywhere: Articles: The Small Town Parades of America's Summer

Chances are, there’s a small town near you. And where there’s a small town, there’s usually a small town parade.

St. Johns Days Parade by Sloan Schang

Ribbons, flatbed trucks and a whole lot of waving, St. Johns Days Parade, Oregon

Living in the city, it’s easy to lose touch with America. Not that I’m not living in an American city, mind you, it’s just that the people I spend my days with don’t exactly wear national pride on their sleeves. So when summer comes, I like to escape to places where they do wear it on their sleeves – literally. Whether it’s Independence Day, Founders Day or just the second Saturday in August, small town main streets come alive all over this country with parades full of off-key Sousa, souped up Camaros and local Dairy Queen contenders. Grab a lawn chair, load up on sunscreen and get ready to wave your arm off in a small town near you.