SEBASTIAN — A multitude of flag-waving Americans lined Indian River Drive July 4th to watch the parade that kicked off Sebastian’s 43rd Annual Freedom Festival, presented by the Sebastian Lions Club and the City of Sebastian.
Again this year, the Substance Awareness Center of IRC 5K Run/Walk was part of the celebration. With a 7 a.m. starting gun, the 170-runner field beat a least some of the heat. First place winners were: Male, Ben Atkins; Female, Lotte Branigan; Male Masters, Charles Douglass; Female Masters, Lisa Hodge.
Even in the sea of flag-colored pants, shirts, hats, socks and hair bows, Rob Richardson stood out – he had dyed his beard and mustache red, white and blue.
Three young moms, Ashley Scranton, Jessica Curran and Julie Hewitt, sported red, white and blue tulle tutus, as they herded their energetic offspring.
“We have five boys between us,” said Scranton.
At 8:30 a.m., to robust applause, the Color Guard led off, followed by several military and veterans units and the Gold Star Mothers. There were scout troops, church groups, law enforcement units, service clubs, local businesses, elected officials, big, impressive trucks, (including county firefighters unit 2201’s pink fire engine and Sebastian’s shiny new Vac truck), the Sebastian River High School Marching Sharks band and football team; the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Band, horseback riders and dogs (in the parade and in the crowd).
Kids waved from aboard floats; pirates arrrghed their way along behind the Florida Park Service pirate ship; squads of walkers handed out candy to squealing kids; and members of Roseland United Methodist Church handed out water to anyone who wanted some. Even in the blazing heat it was about as all-American as you can get – a totally satisfying parade.
Afterward, from the cloudless sky, three skydivers swooped toward earth – Charles Julien and Bill Hector bearing huge American flags and Bob Edmiston trailing red, white and blue smoke – all three landing perfectly in the grassy field along the water.
Another first-time July 4th event, sure to become a favorite, was Keep Indian River Beautiful’s Recycled Boat Regatta. Boats built from at least 7 percent recycled content raced from the Riverview Park Dock north to a buoy. A group of enthusiastic, fun-loving teen campers, Junior Guides from A Florida Outdoor Center, designed and built three entries: “Epic-Er,” modeled after wild-water boats and crewed by Justin and Mark Land; the “SS Savage,” reminiscent of a pirate ship, crewed by Sam Collier and Tanner Glass; and the “Magic Carpet,” a wood-and-carpet raft (which will be re-recycled as a floating dock at the new Audubon HQ), crewed by “genies” Abby Beckham and Gia Prion. The fourth craft, the “Mcgiver,” a KIRB entry made of PVC pipes and two water jugs, was crewed by PJ Traylor and Cheyenne Salthouse. Epic-Er took and held the lead in the wildly fun event, a total crowd-pleaser.
Festivities continued in the park throughout the day, culminating at dusk with the traditional fireworks display, as Sebastian scored another family-friendly festival home run.