Fourth of July 2012, Part III

After the Fourth of July parade, on an extremely hot morning, some of participants bypassed the popsicle truck–at least for a moment–and made a beeline for the Maryland Plaza fountain.

An addition to this year's annual event was a craft table for children to make newspaper hats and red, white and blue fish under the guidance of CWE art teacher Yvette Woods of Studio W. Yvette, below left, was assisted by graphic designer Diann Cage, below right, and a team of talented helpers (behind table above).

Caroline Knapp, above, sporting a World Series tee is covered by a fluff of newspaper, the first step in the hat-making process. After the fitting, the older children were able finish their own Fourth of July hats, while younger milliners were content just picking out a sparkly star as a finishing touch. Isabelle and Caroline Knapp, above, modeling their creations.

Audrey Cage, left, and neighborhood friend Maya Smallwood, right, looking oh so festive.

       

Here's Elle again (she's shown in the first Fourth of July post), who's just the right size to be fitted on top of the craft table.              

 

After the children headed home and out of the heat, stylish CWEnder Susan Block, right, and a neighborhood friend, left, couldn't resist having hats made for themselves. While Susan, the proprietor of The Designing Block in Clayton, has wonderful hats in her own store, she decided the newspaper hat was just the thing to wear around the neighborhood on the Fourth.

The youngest helped put the sparkles on a patriotic fish complete with a dangling "googly-eyed" worm, above and below.

Thanks to the Central West End Association, Central West End Families & Friends, and the Community Improvement District (CID) for sponsoring the Fourth of July Children's Parade, arranging for the popsicles, and the craft component which made the annual event even more fun. And thanks to the many spectators who braved the heat to watch the neighborhood children have a grand time. Next year I hope someone will figure out how to get the virtual marching band in step. What this parade needs is music, lots of music.