On the Fourth of July, Americans celebrated their nation’s 234th birthday all across the United States. The same can be said for the residents and visitors of the Champaign-Urbana area.
Residents filled streets and parks in weather in excess of 90 degrees for the daylong Champaign County Freedom Celebration that extended from Lincoln Avenue in Urbana to Dodds Park in Northwest Champaign.
The day started at 10:30 a.m. with a youth run and 5k race-walk at the east side of the Assembly Hall on Fourth Street.
The race-walk included people of every age, participating in categories from 14 and under to 60 and over.
Around 1 p.m. the residents and visitors to C-U were treated to a Fourth of July parade, which included 100 different groups and organizations walking down Florida and Lincoln avenues, throwing out candy and wishing onlookers a happy Fourth of July.
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The parade meant something special to Kris Blue, a Georgetown, Ill., resident who was visiting her grandchildren in her old hometown.
“I’ve been coming to the parade since I was a little girl,” Blue said. “My daddy was never late and we never missed one of them. We’d be out at 8:30 in the morning waiting for the parade to start at 1 p.m. It is a great community event that everyone around here can enjoy.”
David Spraul, a resident of New Orleans, attested to the community aspect of the Fourth of July.
“I’m from New Orleans originally,” Spraul said, “but I can tell that this is a fun way to celebrate a good community and have a good time with friends and family.”
Kris Scalco also made the trip from New Orleans to celebrate the Fourth of July in Champaign.
“I moved away from here 14 years ago, and I like to come up here because it’s bloody hot down south,” Scalco said.
“And the traditions up here are so much more family-oriented and community-oriented. I’m also excited for the fireworks, because what’s a Fourth of July and a celebration of America without fireworks anyway?”
Tammy Pygott, a new resident to Urbana, looked forward to the firework celebration. The fireworks, which were launched in Dodds Park as part of an evening celebration, started at approximately 9:15 p.m. and lasted about half an hour.
“We’re real excited about the fireworks,” Pygott said, speaking for herself and her husband. “We think the fireworks are very patriotic and quite romantic.”
