Experience Revolutionary Moments At Cedar City’s July Parade

The Spirit of 76 Pageant is once again set to kick off the Cedar City Lions Club’s annual Fourth of July Parade, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers, organizers, and community sponsors. As Director Matt Carling explained in a recent interview on the Big Picture Morning Show on KSUB radio, the pageant is a specialized section within the parade that highlights key moments from America’s founding.

“We start it off with the flags and the Fife and Drum and George and Martha Washington,” said Carling, noting that over 100 volunteer actors are involved in bringing the historical vignettes to life. The Spirit of 76 Pageant was launched about seven years ago by Beth Stevenson, who noticed a lack of patriotic floats in the local parade. “She went back to the Lions Club and said, ‘Can we do something about this?’ And they basically said, yeah, let’s do it,” Carling said.

Follow The Timeline Of The Revolution In The Parade

The floats follow a chronological storyline of Revolutionary-era events. “We have the Boston Tea Party… Patrick Henry’s famous speech… Lexington and Concord… Betsy Ross… Nathan Hale,” Carling listed. One of the most emotional floats depicts Arlington National Cemetery, which this year will include a tribute to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, complete with period uniforms from the Civil War to Desert Storm.

Twelve floats are featured, each sponsored by local businesses. “We had a whole bunch of people come together… from just drawings, renderings, to actually constructing the floats,” Carling explained. Maintenance is an ongoing task, led by Scott Stevens and his team at Midtown Tire and Auto.

Read More: Things Closed For The Holiday? You'll Survive

Get our free mobile app

Carling emphasized the need for community help. Volunteers are needed on July 3 to staple fringe, touch up paint, and test sound systems. Drivers and safety walkers are also in demand. “If anybody wants to come, they’re more than welcome,” he said. Those interested can contact Matt Carling directly at 702-419-7330. “The more hands, you know, make light work,” he added.

You can listen to the entire discussion with Matt Carling in the podcast below.