Community Corner

Fourth of July Parade Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The family-friendly event has united generations of Huntington Woods residents.

Forty-one years ago, there was nothing to do in Huntington Woods on the Fourth of July – no parade, no fireworks – absolutely nothing.

That's how longtime resident Charlene Nutton remembers it.

Back then, Nutton had just moved to Huntington Woods with fond memories of celebrating the Fourth of July at her mom's house in Riverview, where the holiday was marked with four days of festivities.

Find out what's happening in Huntington Woods-Berkleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So, Nutton thought to herself: Why can't we do the same thing in Huntington Woods?

At the time, the city had fewer young families and more older folks, Nutton said. When she met fellow newbie Doris Stoltenberg, the pair formed a fast friendship and Nutton confided her Fourth of July aspirations.

Find out what's happening in Huntington Woods-Berkleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I have this fabulous idea of what we can do," she told Stoltenberg, who now lives in California. The pair decided to take their parade proposal to the City Commission.

'We were new in town then'

"They didn't say yes and they didn't say no," Nutton said, adding that she and Stoltenberg pitched their idea repeatedly over the course of several months. "You have to remember: We were new in town then (and they didn't know if we'd follow through)."

As the clock counted down to the Fourth of July, the duo covertly planned the parade agenda and recruited residents to chair various aspects of the operation.

"Finally, about six weeks before – I think (the City Commission) got sick of us – they said OK," Nutton laughed.

The commission appointed Marge Katz as the Recreation Board liaison and the organizers worked with the Recreation Center and Public Safety Department to move full steam ahead, Nutton said.

The first Fourth of July celebration included:

  • A tug of war
  • A Miss Huntington Woods contest
  • A prince and princess of Huntington Woods contest
  • An ox roast
  • Games and races
  • A concert in the park

"A lot of people came out because they'd never had it before," Nutton said. "And, we didn't even have fireworks then."

The parade has been going strong ever since. In tribute, this year's 40th anniversary celebration is themed Back to the '70s.

Huntington Woods Recreation Center parade liaison Lisa Anderson said one notable change since the 1970s is that there are fewer volunteers and more rec center staff members working on the celebration.

"Think of it," Anderson said. "Women didn't really work full time en force, so there was a lot more free time."

'They're all good memories'

Nonetheless, the family-friendly spirit of the parade and Fourth of July celebration has remained. Driving home that point, Nutton said she recently received an e-mail from former resident Claudette Medinis, who now lives in Troy.

"I went home this afternoon for lunch and while I was there, my son, Rick called from his office in Dallas," Medinis wrote. "He told me that every year around this time, he starts thinking about 4th of July in Huntington Woods and how he misses it. He said, the July 4ths are his most memorable times of growing up in the Woods.

"He loved the parade and being in the parade, the 'Tug O War', Egg Toss and all the other activities. Most of all he misses the closeness of the whole community, from babies to older people and everyone in between, plus the activities did not exclude any age group," Medinis wrote, adding: "I share his sentiments."

That simple message made all the years of work worth it, said Nutton, who has continued to volunteer with the parade and was named Citizen of the Year in the 1980s. She will sport an honorary red-white-and-blue rosette Monday during the festivities.

"They're all good memories. I like to see people coming and enjoying themselves," she said. "Even if you come is as big of a deal as doing it."

She cited the old adage that half of the people are in the parade and half are watching it.

"That's pretty true around here," Nutton said with a laugh.

More coverage: including tips on how to take fireworks photos, coverage of the Mr. Huntington Woods pageant and more.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Huntington Woods-Berkley