Many residents in Erlton feel the neighborhood’s annual parade is the highlight of their Fourth of July weekend.
Dozens of residents from the Erlton neighborhood of Cherry Hill came out of their homes last Thursday evening and lined Jefferson Avenue for the annual Erlton Independence Day Parade. The event was a kickoff to the holiday weekend for all the residents.
With a weekend full of fun activities ahead for many of the parade’s attendees, The Sun asked them what was their favorite part of Fourth of July.
For some residents, such as Kim Friddell, the question was an easy one to answer. She said the Erlton Independence Day Parade is easily her favorite Fourth of July tradition. She participated in the parade as a child and now watches her kid participate.
Friddell believes the parade is special because its origins date back decades.
She described the parade as a unique tradition the neighborhood should hang on to for generations to come.
“In Cherry Hill, this is one of the few traditions that is left,” she said. “We don’t have the Fourth of July fireworks anymore. We don’t have the Cherry Blossom Parade anymore.”
Shen Shellenberger agreed with Friddell about the parade. She always makes sure to catch it every year and brings her chair to Erlton School Park to enjoy the entertainment afterward.
“I love the parade, I love the string band, I love the old cars,” Shellenberger said.
Shellenberger believes Erlton’s parade has been so successful because of when it is held each year.
“They have it in the evening and normally a few days before Fourth of July,” she said. “It really seems to allow more adults to participate.”
Jack Dobbins also enjoys the Erlton Independence Day Parade and spent his evening last Thursday enjoying the South Jersey Pops concert following the parade. However, he said the parade isn’t his favorite thing about Fourth of July. He looks forward to fireworks the most, especially the ones in Ocean City, where he plans to travel during the holiday weekend.
“I saw them on the beach in Ocean City last year,” Dobbins said. “It was the first time I saw them on the waterline.”
