Celebrating the 4th in Kenwood

The pitter-patter of runners fills back-country roads in early daylight. Creamy pancake batter bubbles on hot griddles. Sweet juice floods the mouths of watermelon-eaters, and seed-spitting contests commence. Carefree kids dance barefoot on the grass. Steam from hot dogs drowned in stale water wafts through the air. Candy covers the pavement as King and Queen float by on a cloud of leather interior, atop a mint-condition 1960s Mustang. These are the sights, smells, and sounds of independence. And you can experience it all, this year, in Kenwood.

Kenwood hosts its annual 4th of July Hometown Parade at 10:30 a.m., including a Rotary Club-sponsored picnic featuring live music, games, and refreshments for purchase at the Kenwood Plaza Park along Warm Springs Road. Beforehand, the Empire Runners Club sponsors the annual Kenwood Footrace, featuring a 3K race starting at 7:30 a.m., and a 10K race starting at 7:33 a.m. Check-in and registration starts at 6 a.m. Additionally, the historic Kenwood Community Church hosts its annual pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. Entry is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

Fire Chief Daren Bellach is this year’s Grand Marshal, leading the parade as a symbol of fortitude following the October 2017 fires that devastated the region and Kenwood, specifically.

“Because of all that our community went through last fall, I’m looking forward to commemorating Daren Bellach and the strength of our firefighters,” said King and Queen float organizer and Kenwood resident Karen Borgfeldt. “This parade is just an amazing way to bring people together, from near and far, especially after everything that’s happened. You know, we are tiny, but we have a big heart, this town. We can endure anything. It’s definitely a day to celebrate.”

Don’t miss the chance to celebrate hometown heroes and partake in real, small-town American tradition as the Fourth of July reveals the spirit of both Kenwood and its people.

Intern Elizabeth Kolling is a resident of Kenwood.