PLAINFIELD – The city's celebration of the 100th anniversary of its Fourth of July parade is more than a celebration of the holiday marking the country's independence.
The three-day event is also a celebration of Plainfield, its organizers say.
Beginning in 1924 as an event just for the city and eventually growing into a regional event for Central Jersey, the parade has returned to its roots as a citywide celebration. This year's festivities will include a historical exhibit at the Plainfield Library, the annual parade on Front Street, a concert and a fireworks display.
The exhibit’s opening reception will be on July 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the library, 800 Park Ave. The parade will start 10 a.m. July 4 on East Front Street. The celebration will end on July 5 with a concert and fireworks display at Cedar Brook Park beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Veronica Taylor, superintendent of the city’s Division of Parks and Recreation, and Sarah Hull, head of local history, genealogy and special collections at the Plainfield Library, began planning for the centennial celebration in 2019.
Hull began asking residents for any old photos of parades in the past.
“That was the hurdle, getting people to send us or come in and give us the images in time, because we had to have everything digitized,” Hull said.
Ten residents lent historical photos, while the other photos were either digitized copies of photos from residents or the city’s archives. As of now, there are more than 80 images in the exhibit.
Mayor Adrian Mapp said that the celebration’s diversity over the years has been “second to none.”
“I think what makes it really special is the diversity that has been infused into the parade over the last decade in particular,” Mapp said. “For the entirety of my time as mayor of the city, the parade has grown.”
Hull said that the exhibit will show the diversity of the city over the past century.
“It's an inclusive exhibit, because it's an inclusive parade,” Hull said.
The parade currently has 67 entries for floats from churches, schools, businesses and other local organizations including Scout troops. Taylor said that the turnout for spectators is typically in the thousands.
“Unless it's downpouring, people come out,” Taylor said. “If for nothing else, then to see all the kids.”
Taylor emphasized the civic importance of the parade over the years.
“Everybody should be able to enjoy a parade and be part of civic life,” Taylor said. “Your race or socio-economic status doesn’t matter. Your status as a citizen doesn’t matter. It’s something you can partake in.”
Taylor said that the library exhibit has civic and historical significance as well.
“We can document civic life, because it's important for people who come after us and it’s important for people who live here now,” Taylor said.
Mapp said the celebration is important for young people to learn about the holiday.
“Our young people need to know that Plainfield has been a pillar and a beacon in terms of us being Americans and celebrating the independence from Great Britain,” Mapp said.
Email: sdimaggio@mycentraljersey.com
Sal DiMaggio, a rising senior at Montclair State University, is a reporter interning with MyCentralJersey.com.
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