Jul. 4—OCEAN PARK — Lisa Klein put the finishing touches on her U-Haul truck minutes before the Fourth of July parade started here Thursday morning.
She hung blue streamers across the dashboard and taped an American flag to the passenger side. “We’re just trying to cover up U-Haul as much as possible with our American paraphernalia to celebrate the Fourth,” Klein said with a laugh.
Her family has attended this seaside village’s Fourth of July celebration for the last 17 years. They always participate in the parade and usually drive their own trucks.
But they ran into a quandary this year after selling one of their trucks, and having the other land in a repair shop. Thus, the U-Hauls.
Susan McCann, Klein’s mother, said missing the parade wasn’t an option. “Next to Christmas, all our kids think this is the second best holiday in our family,” said McCann, 72. “We always get together, and the kids have such a good time.”
The family was among hundreds of people who flocked to Ocean Park for Thursday’s Fourth of July celebration. Lawn chairs lined Temple Avenue, people waved American flags, and candy was thrown into the crowd as the parade got underway.
Cristina Poppe and her daughter, Payton Lak, drove a white convertible decked out with red-white-and-blue ribbons. Poppe, 36, said her family comes to Ocean Park every year for the Fourth, and they try to appear in the parade. They stay at a house that’s been in their family for years.
“The whole extended family comes,” said Poppe of Franklin, Wisconsin. “It’s pretty much my favorite. I haven’t missed one yet.”
Parker Koket, 6, said he took third place in the decorated bicycle contest held before the parade. He was riding in circles, waiting for the parade to come through so he could join in. Koket’s bike included a toy pitcher of Kool-Aid and an inflatable lobster, inspired by the foods he planned to eat on the holiday.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a baby, so it’s a nice tradition for me,” said Nancy Koket, Parker’s grandmother, who is in Ocean Park for the summer and lives in the Dallas area. “And it’s cool here. It’s hot in Texas.”
Erica Orthmann and her sons, Arlo and Elliott, also decorated their bikes and rode in the parade. Orthmann, 42, said they were happy to have good weather after it was rainy on the holiday last year. “We’re excited for the Fourth of July. It’s like Maine Christmas,” said Orthmann.
“I love everything about it. The fireworks on the beach, the community,” she said. “We love staying here.”
Steve O’Loughlin sat in the driveway of his sister-in-law’s house along the parade route, sipping a cup of coffee while the rest of his family enjoyed the parade from the porch’s shade.
O’Loughlin, from Saco, said the family has two houses in Ocean Park for the holiday and planned to have a barbecue later Thursday.
“It’s fun for him because he doesn’t experience this in Chicago,” said O’Loughlin, 74, referring to his 7-year-old grandson watching nearby. “And he loves the fireworks. If you sit on the beach, you can see fireworks from 10 towns.”
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