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BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Bellaire's Fourth of July Parade 2021

Maya Harpavat
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  • Vaughan and Salquist families

    The Vaughan and Salquist families took dressing up to the next level with perfectly coordinated matching costumes for the 2021 Bellaire parade.

  • John Luke Munz, Isabella Munz, Sienna Munz, David Geiger, Hannah Geiger,

    John Luke, Isabella, and Sienna Munz smile as they stand with their friends David and Hannah Geiger. 

  • Gwen Hugo, Paul Hugo,

    Twins Gwen and Paul Hugo pose with their mother, all decked out in matching outfits and ready to enjoy the parade.

  • Reese Sancton, Lily Rahmani,

    Reese Sancton and Lily Rahmani put their own Hawaiian spin on the parade, dressed up in beach dresses, sunglasses, and leis.

  • Lemonade stand

    Katherine Russo and Allie Barker set up a lemonade stand for neighbors to enjoy in the humid Houston weather. 

  • Graham Gallager

    Graham Gallager waits in the bike line with his fully decorated bike, ready to ride.

  • Avery Farney

    Avery Farney “stars” with a decorated bike and her favorite cat helmet. 

  • Kit Messa, Ken Messa,

    Kit and Ken Messa relax on the sidewalk in their lawn chairs, ready to cheer on their grandsons who marched with the Boy Scouts in the parade. 

  • Ryan Pickard

    Ryan Pickard is a pro-biker in the parade with her decorated tricycle.

  • Boy Scout troops

    Boy Scout troops lead the parade floats, representing their local Bellaire troops well.

  • Emma and Lily

    Emma and Lily sit together with their street block party, relaxing as they watch the floats pass.

  • Johnson family

    The Johnson family stands together all dressed up in red, white, and blue.

  • Williams family

    The Williams family watches the parade from the sidewalk, enjoying the annual Bellaire tradition.

  • Kate Karwacki, Charleigh Karwacki,

    Sisters Kate and Charleigh Karwacki ready to sit in the shade and see the parade together.

  • Festive attire

    Stars and stripes combined with parade glasses are the new norm for kids in Bellaire.

  • Grant Towensen, Garrett Towensen, Graham Towensen, Beady Lozano,

    Grant, Garrett, and Graham Towensen along with their friend Beady Lozano are pros at dressing up for the parade.

  • Mother-daughter duo

    This mother-daughter duo show off their awesome Fourth of July costumes.

  • Kim family

    The Kim family poses in their color-coordinated Fourth of July costumes, ready to watch the parade come by.

  • Grandfather and granddaughter

    Ron takes his granddaughter Bella to the fourth of July parade. 

  • Claire Marshall, Charlotte Marshall, Ankur Kamdar,

    Claire and Charlotte Marshall pose with their dad, Ankur Kamdar after the parade ends.

  • Madelyn Lack

    Eight year old Madelyn Lack poses with her patriotic themed guitar glasses as the parade ends.

  • Meyer family

    The Meyer family gets ready to head home as they finish watching the parade.

  • Visbal family

    The Visbal family poses in their red, white, and blue apparel as they get ready to go home.

  • Khushnood family

    The Khushnood family knows how to celebrate the Fourth properly with their flags and awesome outfits!

  • Fire truck

    Leo Ross, Gwynn Gold, and Derek Gold explore the fire truck at the Bellaire Fire Department after it has gone through the parade.

  • Vaughan and Salquist families
  • John Luke Munz, Isabella Munz, Sienna Munz, David Geiger, Hannah Geiger,
  • Gwen Hugo, Paul Hugo,
  • Reese Sancton, Lily Rahmani,
  • Lemonade stand
  • Graham Gallager
  • Avery Farney
  • Kit Messa, Ken Messa,
  • Ryan Pickard
  • Boy Scout troops
  • Emma and Lily
  • Johnson family
  • Williams family
  • Kate Karwacki, Charleigh Karwacki,
  • Festive attire
  • Grant Towensen, Garrett Towensen, Graham Towensen, Beady Lozano,
  • Mother-daughter duo
  • Kim family
  • Grandfather and granddaughter
  • Claire Marshall, Charlotte Marshall, Ankur Kamdar,
  • Madelyn Lack
  • Meyer family
  • Visbal family
  • Khushnood family
  • Fire truck

A horn blares as residents of Bellaire begin to cheer for the start of the annual Fourth of July parade. Kids of all ages, some having spent hours decorating their bikes and scooters, take to the street, decked out in red, white, and blue. Neighbors wear festive attire and accessories, such as headbands or colored glasses. On the sidewalks surrounding the main road sit families, grandparents, friends, and even just bystanders, curious about the celebration. 

Kit and Ken Messa tell us that they are waiting to see their grandsons march by with the Cub Scouts. They arrive early to get a nice and covered spot, and wait for the festivities to take off.

Georgina Stallings

Georgina Stallings strikes a model pose as she waits with her family for the parade to begin.

As the floats begin to drive by, a sense of excitement travels from family to family. Parents take pictures and meet other neighbors while kids jump, trying to catch candy being thrown towards them. Because of Covid, it has been two years since the last parade, and even the rainy weather held off so neighbors could enjoy.  

In times like these, it is clear how diverse and community driven our city is. Although Bellaire is made up of hundreds of families living inside and outside of the loop, as we come together for festivals, it is exciting to see how it allows friends to reconnect with each other and celebrate. As one of the biggest community events, the Fourth of July parade is an event remembered by many, no matter their age.

The kids who were once cheering on the sidelines are now parents bringing their own kids to see the decorations and ride in the bike line. Many neighbors driving floats and trucks have grown up coming to celebrate the Fourth of July here annually.

Diya Gidwani, Lily Gidwani, Shail Gidwani,

The Gidwani trio (Diya, Lily, and Shail) smile in their matching outfits, ready to watch the parade. 

The last year or so was quite unexpected, but one thing is clear: our community is stronger than ever. 

Happy Independence Day!

Editor's note: Share your fun Fourth of July photos with us, too! Email [email protected]

Vaughan and Salquist families

The Vaughan and Salquist families took dressing up to the next level with perfectly coordinated matching costumes for the 2021 Bellaire parade.

John Luke Munz, Isabella Munz, Sienna Munz, David Geiger, Hannah Geiger,

John Luke, Isabella, and Sienna Munz smile as they stand with their friends David and Hannah Geiger. 

Gwen Hugo, Paul Hugo,

Twins Gwen and Paul Hugo pose with their mother, all decked out in matching outfits and ready to enjoy the parade.

Reese Sancton, Lily Rahmani,

Reese Sancton and Lily Rahmani put their own Hawaiian spin on the parade, dressed up in beach dresses, sunglasses, and leis.

Lemonade stand

Katherine Russo and Allie Barker set up a lemonade stand for neighbors to enjoy in the humid Houston weather. 

Graham Gallager

Graham Gallager waits in the bike line with his fully decorated bike, ready to ride.

Avery Farney

Avery Farney “stars” with a decorated bike and her favorite cat helmet. 

Kit Messa, Ken Messa,

Kit and Ken Messa relax on the sidewalk in their lawn chairs, ready to cheer on their grandsons who marched with the Boy Scouts in the parade. 

Ryan Pickard

Ryan Pickard is a pro-biker in the parade with her decorated tricycle.

Boy Scout troops

Boy Scout troops lead the parade floats, representing their local Bellaire troops well.

Emma and Lily

Emma and Lily sit together with their street block party, relaxing as they watch the floats pass.

Johnson family

The Johnson family stands together all dressed up in red, white, and blue.

Williams family

The Williams family watches the parade from the sidewalk, enjoying the annual Bellaire tradition.

Kate Karwacki, Charleigh Karwacki,

Sisters Kate and Charleigh Karwacki ready to sit in the shade and see the parade together.

Festive attire

Stars and stripes combined with parade glasses are the new norm for kids in Bellaire.

Grant Towensen, Garrett Towensen, Graham Towensen, Beady Lozano,

Grant, Garrett, and Graham Towensen along with their friend Beady Lozano are pros at dressing up for the parade.

Mother-daughter duo

This mother-daughter duo show off their awesome Fourth of July costumes.

Kim family

The Kim family poses in their color-coordinated Fourth of July costumes, ready to watch the parade come by.

Grandfather and granddaughter

Ron takes his granddaughter Bella to the fourth of July parade. 

Claire Marshall, Charlotte Marshall, Ankur Kamdar,

Claire and Charlotte Marshall pose with their dad, Ankur Kamdar after the parade ends.

Madelyn Lack

Eight year old Madelyn Lack poses with her patriotic themed guitar glasses as the parade ends.

Meyer family

The Meyer family gets ready to head home as they finish watching the parade.

Visbal family

The Visbal family poses in their red, white, and blue apparel as they get ready to go home.

Khushnood family

The Khushnood family knows how to celebrate the Fourth properly with their flags and awesome outfits!

Fire truck

Leo Ross, Gwynn Gold, and Derek Gold explore the fire truck at the Bellaire Fire Department after it has gone through the parade.

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