How Monroe & West Monroe Celebrated the 4th of July

I started the day at 7:30 a.m. in downtown Monroe and ended it watching fireworks over the levee in West Monroe at 9:30 p.m. Fourteen hours, five events, two cities. Here is what the Fourth looked like this year.

Fleet Feet Fourth of July Race

The morning kicked off early on DeSiard Street with the Fleet Feet race. Runners lined up under a red, white and blue inflatable arch while cheerleaders in pom-poms hyped up the crowd. A red bird mascot posed for photos with participants before the start.

The race drew a mix of serious runners, families jogging together, and people who clearly signed up on a whim. By 8:30 a.m. the finishers were already grabbing water and comparing times under the tent.

Children's Parade at Triangle Park

Over at Triangle Park, the Monroe Rotary Club put on their annual children's parade. More people than last year, for sure. Families gathered under the oaks with decorated bikes, scooters, and wagons covered in streamers and small American flags. I ran into several people from work and friends I had not seen in a while.

A bagpiper and a horse led the procession down the path while kids on decorated bikes followed behind. There was live music playing and the mood was emotional. Everyone was socializing, catching up, taking photos. I did not walk the parade this year. I stayed on the side taking pictures instead.

Twin Cities 250th Anniversary Parade

By noon the big parade rolled through downtown. Fewer floats than I expected, but the ones that showed up made it count. Fire trucks with sirens, the Chennault Aviation Museum float, the Daughters of the American Revolution float waving American flags, and people in colonial costumes throwing beads from decorated flatbeds. I talked with the husband of Mrs. Collien from the DAR float. He gave me directions to a better spot to watch from. Super kind.

The America 250th Birthday float was the most visually striking, loaded with red, white and blue bunting and people tossing beads into the crowd. They were generous. I made two new friends from Vietnam, Miss Bell and Loui, and someone on a float threw me a patriotic hat.

If you are wondering about the 250th, it is the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Monroe and West Monroe went all in on it.

The Good Daze Block Party in Art Alley

After the parade I walked over to Art Alley in downtown Monroe. The Good Daze, a vintage clothing and local art shop, threw a block party on the colorful ground mural between the old buildings. Vendor tents lined the alley, a live band played under a canopy, and food trucks including Red Dog's Weiner Wagon and The Silver Spoon served the crowd.

Art Alley is one of those spots that photographs well no matter what is happening in it. With vendor tents and people walking over the mural it looked like a scene from a much bigger city.

Double Rainbow to Fireworks

The drone show was cancelled and the fireworks were delayed because of the weather. For a while it looked like the day might end on a quiet note. Then, around 8 p.m., as the rain cleared and the sun started going down over the levee in West Monroe, a double rainbow appeared. Full arc, clear colors, the kind of thing where everyone stops what they are doing and pulls out a phone.

An hour later the fireworks finally went off. Red, white, and gold explosions over the same levee where we had just watched the rainbow. After a long day that started before 8 a.m. and almost got rained out, it was hard to imagine a better ending.

If you missed it this year, start with our 4th of July guide for next year's planning.