4th of July Parade Went 'Pretty Well' Chairman Says

For nearly 50 years, the local Kiwanis club has been running the 4th of July Parade through Danville.

Last Wednesday, on July 4, .

"The parade went pretty well I think," Kiwanis 2012 Parade Chairman Wayne Wickham said. "There was a good variety of entertainment."

This year there were 131 groups involved. These groups ranged from sponsors like Safeway to community organizations like the Rotary club and the Cub Scouts.

Some groups were paid sponsors while other community groups were allowed to walk for free, Wickham said.

All the funds raised from Kiwanis events are passed out to several dozens of charities that submitted various grant proposals to the Kiwanis for funding. The Kiwanis was able to donate $35,000 to $40,000 last year, with the biggest event being the 4th of July Parade.

Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins said that roughly 45,000 attended the parade, which was more than last year. He added that this is just a rough estimate, not exact numbers.

Wickham said that the parade hasn't changed too much over the last few years except for some mechanical tweaks to try and quicken the pace.

He also said he wanted to get more entertainment into the parade and felt that he accomplished that.

Next year, the parade will have a new chairman, as it rotates yearly.

Part of the parade included a political contingent, which Danville Patch readers have been discussing .

What do you think... were there more spectators this year? Less? Or the same?