Lindale celebrates holiday early
Cloudy skies don’t dampen the crowds’ spirits.
Cloudy skies threatened to rain on the Lindale Independence Day parade early Saturday morning as an assortment of vehicles lined up preparing to venture out on the parade route.
Fortunately, the overcast skies kept the morning cool as spectators lined up on the sidewalks of Park Avenue and watched as the antique Lindale fire truck, classic cars, a lawn mower, a truck pulling a bass boat and about 20 other vehicles drove by showing off their patriotic spirit. Spectators gathered to see how each participant of the parade decorated
their vehicle to show off their Independence Day spirit. Participants of the parade threw candy out to onlookers and waved to friends they saw along the way.
Grand Marshal Sara
Heath, 94, rode at the front of the parade in the Pepperell antique fire truck, which was driven Tim Reynolds of Restoration Lindale.
Heath, who was being recognized for being the oldest living Pepperell teacher, received bouquets of flowers from friends and a former student before the parade.
“You’ll always be my favorite teacher,” said the card from a former student who had Heath as teacher when she taught at Pepperell Primary School from 1956-1986.
After the parade ended, some of the crowd watching walked over to the Lindale Arts Festival to look at handmade art and jewelry as well as participate in a massive rock hunt. The rock hunt, as well as the art fest, was organized by Misty Golden, who said she was up until 1 a.m. the previous night hiding the 150 rocks around Wolfe Park and downtown Lindale.
The parade and art festival was put on by Restoration Lindale, who has begun bringing events like these into the community.
“We’ve brought back community pride” Reynolds said.