One of the highlights of celebrating July 4th for me and the kids is the annual Independence Day Parade in Historic Micanopy. Micanopy is about 10 miles south of Gainesville and is the oldest inland settlement in Florida. You may have seen bits of Micanopy of you’ve ever seen Doc Hollywood with Michael J. Fox. It is such a beautiful town with such warmth and charm. The streets are lined with soaring oak trees and white picket fences. It’s the perfect place for a leisurely Sunday stroll while admiring the old time storefronts and visiting the antique shops. If you like to shoot Urban Photo Sessions - this is the place. I just love the brick buildings and the colored doorways.
The parade features local business owners, organizations, and politicians running for office. I almost feel like I’m actually in the movie Doc Hollywood. While the parade marches by me time stands still just long enough to remind me about all the wonderful reasons to be proud to be an American and the values that it represents. If only that feeling could last through the 5th of July…or the next time I watch CNN.
Anyhoo, here are some pictures from the parade. I decided not to take my DSLR and took my Canon G6 instead. I processed all of the pictures in Lightroom Beta (I just love it) and exported directly to Flickr. I love that I can do that within Lightroom.
These people were lined up and getting ready for the parade. I love their uniforms.
Here is Rowan, Robin, and Aidan in front of one of the many charming storefronts.
Alachua County sheriff Sadie Darnell opens the parade. Not only is she a very popular and terrific sheriff but she is also the first woman sheriff of Alachua County AND Tom Petty’s first cousin! Go Sadie!
It doesn’t get anymore Americana then this. Check out Aidan waiting for these firemen! He really has his eye on those white bags next to the firemen because he knows they are filled with candy. After 5 years of coming to this parade, my kids come prepared with bags to carry their heaps of candy - it’s better than Halloween!
Anyone who really knows me - KNOWS that I love classic black and white horror movies and Halloween. Check out this classic ambulance driven and owned by our local funeral home - Williams-Thomas.
You can’t have a true Independence Day Parade without Uncle Sam . Except for the parked cars, doesn’t this photo look like it could actually be 1940?
I just love this picture!
Aidan wearing the shirt I brought back from Cape Cod last October while shooting Lighthouses with the DLWS Crew
This shot kinda weirded me out. For the entire parade I stayed with the kids but at the end I wanted to get another perspective of the kids watching the parade so I walked across the street. This is what I saw in my view finder. This guy started taking pictures of Robin and Rowan and getting in their face with his camera and actually posing them. At the time I just let it go since I was right there…but now thinking about it..I’m pissed! I don’t know how you feel but I would never start taking closeup shots of someone else’s child without asking parent permission . It all happened within a few seconds but if I were to go back and replay this, I would have definitely gotten in this guys face and remind him of some good ole fashioned photographer etiquette. Shame, Shame, Shame!
Congratulations Laurel! You like a little encyclopedia - a wealth of knowledge. I’m glad you were recognized for your bloggin’ skills