Fourth of July in Warren, PA: A Religious Experience

I went to my wife’s hometown of Warren, PA over the weekend to partake in some of the fourth of July festivities that happen there every year.  These few days of summer prove to be those of legend in this community, providing two days of parading, fireworks and most importantly, planning ahead.

The first big event is the Warren Fourth of July Parade.  It’s probably the most interesting three hours you’ll spend sitting on a street’s curb.  I’ve never seen so many fire trucks in one place - Warren and it’s surrounding community is REALLY prepared for disaster.  The peoplewatching is better than the parade itself.  This one event shakes out all the “interesting” people from their homes who wouldn’t otherwise be seen in public on a sunny day. 

Interesting people included:
1. Ferret lady - she wouldn’t be seen on the 4th without her pet ferret on her shoulder.
2. Firecracker boy - he felt it necessary to light firecrackers at every parader passing by.
3. Red wagon dog-selling guy - he was selling his prized black lab puppy from his red wagon.  When asked if we’d buy his only best friend he replied, “Nah, I got twenty of ‘em at home!”
4. Attention-seeker dude - he loved to walk up and down the street numerous times, shirt half-off, sometimes carrying a pizza box, sometimes not.
5. Old man candy thief - he enjoyed walking between the parade participants and the lines of kids at the curb, picking off candy as it was thrown from vehicles.

As you can read above, the people attending the parade REALLY WERE more fun than watching the parade.  Here are some photos from that lovely day:

Butler Vagabonds

Tall Parade Guy

One word: Awesome

Interesting parade float

Turd Hearse

Impressive...

Tiny bicycle clown

Best float of the day

Probably the best and most odd part of the parade is that Warren citizens will plan ahead and place their lawn chair in their favorite spot at least A WEEK early.  My father in-law had his spot picked out the Sunday prior to the big day.  Talk about being prepared, he’d shared the same spot with his group of friends for the past twenty-odd years.  What great stories they must have shared in that time.

The second big event of the two day affair is the fireworks the next day.  They take place at Betts Park, just off Route 6.  Typicaly there is a fun fair that takes place all day with carnival rides, food and games but that didn’t happen this year due to low turnout I think. 

As with the parade, much preparation goes into watching the fireworks.  By 11:00am, vehicles are parked all along Route 6 (a four-lane highway in these parts) including the cloverleaf exit and entry ramps.  Why park your car there so early?  So you can leave easily when the show is over of course.

I’d definitely return to Warren next year.  I’d sit on the same bench with my father in-law.  I’d eat the same parade food (peanuts) and I’d drink the same parade beverage (Miller Lite).  What a great time in little ol’ Warren.  I definitely look forward to going back to experience what could only be described as religious.