Georgia’s biggest 4th of July parade was also Dunwoody’s largest in history, as 115 entrants braved a steamy Thursday morning to participate in this year’s annual event.
The parade, themed “Red, White and YOU,” was sponsored by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and Rough Draft Atlanta. David Abes of Dash Hospitality, largely credited with the revitalization of the Dunwoody Village restaurant scene, was the grand marshal.
Parade Co-chair Matt Weber said the turnout was one of the largest he’s seen. Previous year’s estimates have put attendance at 25,000, but organizers said they felt the crowds were much larger this year.
“I loved how many people came out this year, and I’m so grateful for the volunteers who did the hard work to make this happen, ” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. “I think this is the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen.”
The parade featured several bands, including the 116th United State Army Band, Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, Dunwoody High School Band, and Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as many crowd favorites.
The Torres’ family Dinowoody theme took it up another notch with an animated dinosaur and two people riding a stegosaurus, along with several walkers in full reptilian costumes.
Another popular entry was the Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team, which performed its routine to loud crowd cheers, especially when it finished with its signature one-legged chair handstand.
“Show me your chair,” someone from the crowd shouted, while others commented that it was the most entertaining of all the groups coming down the route.
Dunwoody City Council members, at the bequest of fellow councilwoman Stacey Harris, rode their bikes down the route for “something new and different,” she said.
“We were more mobile and it was more fun,” Harris said.
Sarv Dharavane, a rising fifth grader at Austin Elementary, who won the 63rd Annual Georgia Association of Educators State Spelling Bee in March and placed 22nd at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, also participated in the event.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the Twilight Twirlers, and military veterans were also big crowd favorites. Representatives from the Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Bobby Kennedy presidential campaigns also traveled the 2.7-mile route, encouraging people to vote in November’s election.
After the parade ended at Dunwoody Village, the 116th United States Army Band and Dunwoody Idol Winner Lauren Schroder performed, and there was plenty of entertainment for the young and young-at-heart, including a bounce house, Kona Ice, and Slope’s barbecue and other food available for purchase.
Parade co-chair Penny Forman also gave a shout-out to all the volunteers who helped before, during and after the event.
“We are an all-volunteer team and we would not have been able to put this parade on without their hard work,” she said.
This year’s parade winners included:
Musical
First place: Spirit of Atlanta
Second place: Atlanta CV Drum Corps
Third place: Dunwoody High School marching band
Spirit
First place: Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team
Second place: Twilight Twirlers
Third place: Dunwoody High School cheerleaders
Float
First place: Dunwoody United Methodist Church
Second place: Grayback Base USSVI
Third place: Sons of the American Revolution
Car
First place: Boy Scout Troop 477/veterans
Second place: Tom Bass
Third place: Knights of Columbus
Best Overall
Spirit of Atlanta
