July 08, 2004
Thursday

I agree wholeheartedly with Tundra Tom LeCompte's suggestion of having the fireworks on the night of the 3rd of July rather than the 4th. Usually by the end of the Fourth many of us are already "celebrated" out and it is a challenge to stay up that late. It would also allow a little wiggle room for years - such as this one - in which technical difficulties arise or perhaps the weather doesn't cooperate.

Also, those of us with young children are finding it harder to keep the wee ones interested during the interminable delay between the end of the childrens' parade and the arrival of the main parade downtown. This year nearly two hours passed before the main parade reached the tunnel. Is it possible to start the two parades simultaneously? The Childrens' parade rarely lasts more than half an hour and would be over a least 30 minutes before the adult parade arrived downtown. At the very least, start the main parade as soon as the childrens' parade is over and then wait will be cut down to a hour. It may seem like a small thing, but that extra hour wait is becoming too much for parents and toddlers.

And finally, nix on starting the main parade at 1 pm ever again. It just compresses the afternoon too tightly and makes it almost impossible to take in all the afternoon festivities (booths, pie sale, logging show, duck race).

Thanks to all the volunteers for making the Fourth a great celebration again!

Dave Kiffer
Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

Post a Comment -------View Comments

Submit an Opinion - Letter

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska