West side parade delights El Pasoans

It started with a bang, as all fourth of July parades should.

Adults, children, and even a goat spent their morning on Independence Day watching floats pass by for the 16th annual fourth of July parade presented by
The Rotary Club of West El Paso.

For many families, it’s a tradition to bring their kids and to come out to the west side parade.

“We’ve been coming out I think since the first time they came out, so it’s been quite a few years. This is where we always sit,” said parade fan Melissa Chiappone.

The event has been growing every year, and this fourth of July is no exception.
ABC-7 asked a few of the parade watchers what was different about this year’s celebration.

“More people, more floats, different ideas of the floats,” said parade pro Daniela Silva.

But it’s not just the new additions to the parade that make it an El Paso tradition, it’s the people that volunteer year after year to be a part of the event.

The historical re-enactment troupe Six Gun’s and Shady Ladies is an old favorite, and one of the actors, Carole Cook, has been a part of the parade for 12 years.

“It’s just a great celebration of our country and what all those men and women went through so that we can have our freedom,” said Cook.

Even though the parades are over, there are still many events going on around the borderland on the fourth.

For more information on where and when they occurred, click here.