Blog starts with a bang: 4th of July (actually 5th of July) parade and fireworks in the Hereford Zone

For so long, if you lived in the Hereford Zone and wanted to enjoy Fourth of July festivities, you had to hit the road. Drive all the way down to the Inner Harbor. Maybe Towson or Bel Air. Fireworks and music at Oregon Ridge. Or, as we often did, park in the lot at the hilltop business park in Hunt Valley and watch the Oregon Ridge show from there. It was a festive scene, but the fireworks lose some oomph from that distance.

Happily, there’s been no need to go elsewhere since 2006, when holiday festivities came to Hereford. The festival, parade and fireworks draw thousands. In no time, the celebration has become one of the biggest annual events in Hereford.

For good reason. It is a chance for neighbors to come together. The festival and parade are entertaining. And the fireworks deliver. It is, in short, a blast.

The festival begins at 2 p.m. Sunday. The parade is scheduled for 6 p.m., and runs from the Hereford Pharmacy Shopping Center on Mount Carmel Road to Hereford High School. Fireworks are at dusk at the high school. More details can be found at http://www.herefordparade.org/.

My family has enjoyed this event from the beginning. It is fun to be part of the spectacle. Two years ago, while waiting for the fireworks to begin, I ran across an old high school friend who I had not seen in years. Turns out he too had moved to beautiful northern Baltimore County. You never know who you will run into at the fireworks.

Last year, my little girl marched in the parade with her Daisy girl scout troop. This year, she’s a Brownie, and they’re planning to put together a float. I love it.

Check back here for updates as the festivities near. Today, I give a couple of photos from last year’s parade. On Saturday, look for shots of the homes and businesses along the parade route that are decorated for the holiday.

Now it’s your turn: What do you like about the celebration? Dislike? For that matter, feel free to comment on any aspect of the event. Or for that matter, the holiday. What’s on the grill?

Let’s start the conversation.

Oh. Almost forgot. Have a great holiday weekend!

A note about this blog: I am a longtime journalist at The Baltimore Sun. I was a reporter for many years, and was later the Baltimore County Bureau Chief and then Regional Editor for the paper. I love news, especially local news. And I plan to collect and present the information that matters to the people of northern Baltimore County. It is a work in progress, but please check back often – and join in!