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I’m ashamed to say that I have never been to a Fourth of July parade. In fact, I can count the number of parades that I have been to on one hand and none of them were related to celebrating freedom. This year I’m going to change that by taking my family to a Fourth of July parade. I must admit that the parade was not my idea. Brett of Art of Manliness was gracious enough to invite us to join them at a parade in the suburbs.

Having never been to a Fourth of July parade and not having much experience with any sort of parade, I decided to gather a few tips for the parade goer.

Get There Early
The main attraction of the parade is the parade itself. Most parades include decorated floats, marching bands and groups, antique cars, clowns, etc. so it makes sense to get there early and grab a good spot with a view. Parade routes are sometimes posted online which can be a valuable resource for planning on where you want to set up.

Bring Water and Snacks
I’m sure many parades offer food and drink vendors near by but if you’re like me, you have a problem spending five dollars on a soda. That’s why I plan on bringing bottled water and some snacks like pretzels, dried fruit or jerky to the parade. This will be especially important as the kids may need something to eat if their attention span begins to weaken. I don’t want to haul a cooler everywhere I go or be a nuisance, so I’ll likely carry these snacks in a backpack.

Bring Chairs or Blankets
If you happen to get a spot that allows you to cop a squat, then you’ll want to be comfortable by bringing a lawn chair or blanket. I imagine the blanket will only work out if you’re on a hill. Also, if you have a baby or toddler, you might consider bringing one of those baby packs that lets you put your kid on your back. You’ll need one less chair and your kid will get a view.

Bring Your Camera
The older I get (I’m not that old) the more I wish I’d taken more pictures over the years, especially as my family grows. If you have an underused camera, dust it off and bring it. Unless something truly spectacular passes by, I’m going to try to keep friends and family in the shots with the action behind them. I find these kinds of photos are more fun to look at later, but that’s just my taste. Also, try to divide camera duty between your group. Nobody like to see the whole event through the view finder.

Dress Right
You’re going to be outside for several hours, so dress smart. Since it is summer, I’ll wear shorts, a light colored shirt, sandals and, if I can ever find one I like, a straw hat. Be sure to bring your sunglasses along. If you will be doing some walking, then consider some good walking shoes. Sun block and bug repelant may also be appropriate.

Am I on the right track here? Is there anything I missed? If you have some killer tips on how to get the most out of a parade, please share in the comments!

Bonus: If you always find yourself wondering what to do when the US flag passes by in a parade, Art of Manliness has the article for you. Don’t look like a schmuck this Friday. Show some respect!