Despite heat Chestnut Hill continues bike parade tradition on Independence Day

An excessive heat warning issued for the city resulted in a smaller turnout for Chestnut Hill’s 96th annual Fourth of July Celebration. The event, sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club, featured a children’s bicycle parade along East Hartwell Lane and summer activities at the Water Tower Recreation Center.

The children who were present sure did decorate their bikes, trikes, scooters and wagons in fine patriotic style. They festooned themselves and their “wheels” in red, white and blue, using everything from ribbons and streamers to tin foil, handmade signs, balloons and dolls.

There were some weather-induced cranky faces and organizers asked all to keep in the shade while waiting for the parade to begin.

After the one block length parade, families gathered at the Water Tower Recreation Center to enjoy fun and games such as traditional sack races, 50 yard dashes and crab races. Clowns were on hand to make balloon animals, but the real treat was being able to pet and feed live animals at the petting zoo.

Bunnies, goats, chickens, ducks, a calf, a pig and even a young fawn seemed to never tire of receiving some more food pellets. For the humans, there were free hot dogs and cold drinks.