‘STORY OF AMERICA’

A year after heavy rains flooded Harris County and forced the cancellation of many events, including Houston’s Freedom Over Texas, the area’s Fourth of July celebrations stayed dry Thursday.

More than a thousand people lined South Rice Boulevard in Bellaire for the city’s parade, which included the usual smorgasbord of fire trucks, elected officials, antique cars, civic groups, political parties and a marching band.

Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen stood precariously on top of a high water rescue vehicle and wished the crowd a happy Independence Day. State Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, waved from a Jeep while state District Judge Mike Engelhart, who ditched his robes for a red T-shirt, walked along the route.

Despite a heat index above 90 degrees, the parade featured three mascots in full costume: a shopping bag getup from H-E-B; a wolf from Wolfies Swim School; and three likely dehydrated cows representing Chick-fil-A. Many attendees appeared relieved church groups were on hand to hand out water and lemonade.

Bellaire resident Tina Wu wore a patriotic-themed scarf and collected beads that groups handed out.

“I just like to see all these people, all red and blue,” Wu said. “I try to come every year.”

Parade participants threw candy from many of the floats, and children scrambled to retrieve it. Cousins Ari Spelkin and Eli Kagan, both 7, dumped their loot into a plastic shopping bag. Like ball boys at Wimbledon, they dashed into the street during breaks in the procession to collect Jolly Ranchers, Dubble Bubbles and lollipops.

Kagan said the candy was the highlight of the parade. Spelkin agreed, though when prodded by his mother, Melanie, he conceded he also enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with friends and family.

After the parade concluded, hundreds of revelers poured into Loftin Park for games, treats and an ’80s rock tribute band. They chomped on enormous slices of watermelon from the Rotary Club as they listened to Pat Benatar covers.

Nearby, a group of Boy Scouts took turns in a dunk tank, in part to stay cool in the mid-morning humidity. Baker William, 11, sat on the perch and taunted his fellow scouts.

“I wanted to get them riled up enough to hit me,” William said afterward.

Seven Boy Scouts wound up, fired, and missed. Then came Caroline Reese, a shy 5-year-old with blond hair, who unceremoniously dunked William. She nodded when asked if she thought she’d hit the target.

In Lindale Park, which still held its parade in 2018 during torrential downpours, a number of politicians participated this year. The group included Democratic U.S. Reps. Sylvia Garcia and Sheila Jackson Lee, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia.

The event included a marching band as well as bagpipers, art cars and lowriders. zach.despart@chron.com