Independence Day Fun in Clifton

Clifton will be a Mecca of red, white and blue parade floats, delicious summer treats and activities for the whole family this Independence Day.

The 4th of July Celebration kicks off at 3:30 p.m. when parade participants are asked to line up on Dell Avenue.  The Fire Department will lead the floats which are mostly kid created. 

Judges will pick a first, second and third place float after the parade files by. Last year, a father and child won with their “Support the Troops” float; they created an actual tanker pulled by a four wheeler. 

To make way for the parade, Main Street will be closed to traffic from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 4th.

After the parade, the crowd will say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the National Anthem, and local children will raise the flag with the Clifton mayor. After that, it’s party time.

“This is an annual event since as long as I remember,” said 4th of July Chairperson Julie Thompson. 

Once the parade and ceremony wrap up, folks can head over to the town park for a potluck. The barbecue will be catered, but families in the last name bracket A-M are asked to bring an appetizer or side dish while N-Z families are asked to bring dessert. There will be a huge inflatable water slide for the kids, Sno Cones and lots of games. 

“We all just kind of hang out and eat food and it all wraps up around 9:00,” Thompson said.

This event is put on by the Clifton Betterment Association and Thompson expects about 150 people to come out.

 “We are a very tight knit close community.  Everybody helps each other when things good or bad happen; everybody pulls together,” Thompson said.  “This is just the coolest town I’ve ever been in.  July 4th is a great time to celebrate with our friends and neighbors.”