I’m as patriotic as the next Western liberal intellectual. But I found myself uninspired by Durango’s Fourth of July parade. There was one tiny band, few floats that demonstrated any vision or pride in the parade theme, and a large number of vehicles with no decoration aside from company logos. Where was the music? If I would have had guests visiting, I would have been embarrassed to bring them to the parade. Are there any requirements at all for organizations wishing to participate in the parade? Any possibility for bands, choirs, or other groups to make the parade something more than free advertising? Planning to go camping next year. – Chiara Cannella
Action Line and Mrs. Action Line had the exact opposite reaction to the holiday whoop-de-do.
It was a homespun hometown happening, at times homely and hokey. But Main Avenue was packed with people who seemed to enjoy a star-spangled spectacle despite the fact that most entrants were punting on bunting.
It’s not like music was missing. Following the parade, the street dance lasted for hours leading up to the fireworks.
But the actual parade was admittedly short on marching bands and itinerant singers.
So there is room to grow. All we need is someone to coordinate that effort!
The downtown parade is an all-volunteer shebang, overseen by the Downtown Business Improvement District.
A couple years ago, BID was tasked to be the parade’s lead organizer after a citizens group re-established the parade.
You read that correctly. For years there was no downtown Fourth of July parade at all. It was as if Durango declared its independence from America’s birthday.
If that happened today, we’d call it the “Durexit.” But Durango isn’t a quitter, and this year’s event had 50 or so entrants.
The parade has grown for the past three years under the steady hand of Tim Walsworth, executive director of BID.
“I think we’ve come a long way,” Tim said. “And we’d love to have marching bands and choirs. But the thing is, this is the middle of summer and schools are out – and schools are where the bands and choirs are.”
That’s true, but the community has many unsung vocalists.
Instead of the Durango Choral Society, we could form the Durango Corral Society.
The group could hoof along, harmonizing on a rousing rendition of “Don’t Fence Me In” to commemorate the fact that the July Fourth parade lacks barricades.
Music in the Mountains could have an outreach performance: “Fiddles on the Flatbed.”
Meanwhile, there could be the debut of the Durango Sim-Phony. Sim-Phony is a combination of simulation and phony.
The Durango Sim-Phony comprises all the local Beautiful People whose vehicles have preachy bumper stickers urging sustainability or simplicity while hauling an astonishing amount of gear great distances to recreate in ecologically fragile areas.
Naturally, they could do a lap through town before heading off to their next epic adventure.
And finally, there could be the La Plata Strings Attached Ensemble.
Doesn’t it seem like everything around here has strings attached? And isn’t it ironic that “ensemble” is pronounced as “On-Some-Bull,” which describes the basis for most civic decisions.
It might not be music to your ears, but if we want bands and singers for the parade, it’s up to us to drum up support. Call Tim Walsworth at 375-5067 to “conduct” a search for musical marchers.
Only when 76 trombones lead the big parade can we really toot our own horn.
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you’ve started brainstorming for the 2017 Snowdown Light Parade, whose theme is “Intergalactic Snowdown.”
