Antioch celebrates America’s 247th birthday with parade, music and fireworks over the river
See photos from the celebration and parade winners
By Allen D. Payton
Hundreds of Antioch residents lined the streets of historic, downtown Rivertown to enjoy the annual Independence Day Parade on Tuesday afternoon, July 4, 2023. Beginning with Antioch Police motorcycle officers and the Delta Veterans Group, the parade ended with the Tamaborago Arrazador band and dancing horses. (See parade videos on the Antioch Herald Facebook here and here)
A crowd then gathered in Waldie Plaza to enjoy the sounds of Tony Lindsay, the longest-tenured lead singer of Santana, and band and Michael Jackson tribute band Foreverland. (See videos here, here, here and here)
Children also enjoyed the Kids Zone in the City Hall parking lot and folks enjoyed food from the Rivertown Dining District restaurants and the various food trucks and booths.
Thousands of people a gathered along the Promenade between G Street and Waldie Plaza, on the Compy Compomizzo Fishing Pier and at Monica’s Riverview restaurant (for a fee), as well as along the railroad right-of-way to watch the fireworks show over the river.
The fireworks barge arrived from Fulton Shipyard on the east end of Antioch’s waterfront to just across from the fishing pier and Monica’s the at the end of I and H Streets, as the pyrotechnics company staff prepared to launch the first shells of the show which began about 9:20 pm.
The fireworks show to end this year’s Antioch Independence Day Celebration and especially the finale pleased those who watched along the waterfront as they cheered, whistled and applauded. See videos of the fireworks finale, here.
Parade Winners
Most Creative: Delta Learning Center
Most Patriotic: Delta Veterans Group
Best Performance: Park Middle School Cheer
Best Vehicle – 1st: Councilmember Monica Wilson
Best Vehicle – 2nd: “Sassy” (1928 Pontiac)
Best Vehicle – 3rd: “Phatt Chance” (1950 Plymouth)
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