A longstanding event will continue in Springfield on Independence Day. The Midtown Neighborhood Association has been hosting the Midtown Old-Fashioned 4th of July Parade and Celebration for 35 years. It’s a way for people to celebrate the holiday in one of Springfield’s historic neighborhoods.
“Our neighborhood was first built in 1871, a year after the Saint Louis San Francisco Railroad arrived in north Springfield,” said Brian Shipman, vice-president of MNA. “Well, they needed a place for those folks to live, the railroad managers and the workers. And so, they built our neighborhood known as Midtown, which is a National Register historic district with over 450 buildings. So, the parade goes right through these beautiful old buildings with their Victorian design and the columns. It’s just a perfect 1915, 1920 feel. And the floats and the cars reflect that and the kids lining the street — it’s just really a throwback in time.”
The Midtown Victorian Ladies Drill team is always in the parade with members wearing long skirts and holding parasols. There’s a big-wheeled bike and lots of other things to see. Shipman says there are over 50 entries this year – nearby neighborhoods often have floats. There’s always candy for kids. And with it being an election year, there will likely be a few politicians…