In two weeks we will celebrate our fantastic Geneva Fourth of July Parade and Festival, and to quote Mary Jo Martin: "We dare you not to be moved by Geneva's small-town patriotic parade." Did you know that this is the only parade held in Central Florida on July 4? You will love it!

 

This year's parade theme is "Living Our Rural Heritage," and $500 in various cash prizes will be awarded to the floats that portray the theme. Rural means "country," and "heritage" is a way of life, and rural activities that were in Geneva in the old days are still alive there today.

 

Decorated wagons, bikes, floats, tractors, antique cars and horses are welcome in the parade. Families, groups and individuals are welcome to submit a float; just pre-register horse entries with Marie Tatman at 407-349-2288, and all other entries register with Jessie Harrelson at 407-349-5112. 

 

The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, corner of First and Main streets. The route goes First Street to Pine Street and then Second Street to Avenue C. There are awards for the best-decorated bicycle, horse and float that portray the theme, so get going now! 

 

If you play a marching band instrument, contact Richard Simonton to join the Fourth of July Parade Greater Geneva Grande Award Marching Band. E-mail Simonton@earthlink.net or call 407-312-1723. The Web site is www.gggamb.com. All musicians and skill levels are welcome. Sheet music is available in advance.

 

The Fourth of July Festival begins after the parade, and it is always free admission and parking and the most family fun you'll find anywhere. There are games for kids, hometown food, homemade desserts and the ever-popular Cake Walk, which is sponsored by our Geneva homemakers. 

 

Plus there are pony rides, a cow-chip throwing contest, a log-sawing contest, demonstrations, live music and more. Corporate sponsors are always welcome; contact Richard Creedon at 407-349-1266 if you want to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

More exciting news revolves around the preparations being laid to take possession of the Old Geneva School this summer, and the plans to ultimately transform it into The Island and Village of Geneva Rural Heritage Center. 

 

Part of the Fourth of July festivities will include a reunion of those who attended, taught or were staff members at the historic brick school. The Geneva School Alumni Committee is gathering old photos to be copied and put in the hallway of the school on an alumni wall. Group photos of participants will be taken in front of the school on July 4. 

 

Please e-mail sloan_sonya@hotmail.com with your contact info and what years you attended. If you know others who attended, give them a call and make it a group activity. If you plan to be part of the Fourth of July photo, email RuralHeritage@simiosys.com so they know how many will be in the photo. 

 

We are very fortunate that the Seminole County School Board agreed to transfer ownership to us for a Rural Heritage Center, and we can't wait to share more about that with you. By the time the festival rolls around, we should have the first phases of the fundraising campaign ready for your participation. 

 

To cover the initial cost of insurance and ownership expense, commemorative bricks will be available for purchase, "paving" the walkway in front of the school on which the name or names of your choice will be engraved. Several other long-term and short-term fundraising and revenue streams will be available, and everyone is welcome to share ideas and feedback for this exciting endeavor. 

 

E-mail Christopher Stapleton or any of the committee heads at RuralHeritage@simiosys.com. 

 

Stay tuned next week to see how you can get more involved.