Chamber names new July 4th parade chairperson

Contributed report

A new chairperson will lead the organization of Monticello’s annual Fourth of July parade. 

Mareda Pierce will take the helm as the parade’s chairperson following the announcement that Tom Osbourne and Quinn Phelan are stepping down. 

The annual Independence Day parade helps kick off the summer with dozens of floats and participants. The parade route through the heart of town can be seen covered with chairs and blankets, as parade watchers hope to reserve a prime viewing spot, and those unable to attend the event tune into a KMCH livestream. With over a hundred entries, the parade lasts well over an hour and is just the start to a typical day full of celebrations. 

With a parade that large, preparations begin in February with the Monticello Fourth of July Parade Committee meetings. Taking the lead on the 4th of July Parade for the past five years was Osbourne and Phelan. 

“Through their dedication, the parade committee is a strong team, with a uniform procedure that it follows,” according to a Monticello Area Chamber of Commerce press release. “Their volunteerism and dedication to this community event have made it into the renowned celebration that the city of Monticello comes to enjoy every year.”

The announcement states Osbourne and Phelan will remain volunteering. 

The Monticello Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Osbourne and Phelan for their dedication to the committee for the past five years. Their leadership and streamlining of the parade procedure allow the committee to think of new and fun ways to grow the event, without having to worry about the smaller details,” the press release states. 

Pierce has been an integral part of the 4th of July Parade Committee for the past several years, and is familiar with MACC as a past director, according to the release. 

MACC is looking for folks who want to volunteer on the parade committee. Anyone interested should reach out to the Chamber office at (319) 465-5626 or chamber@macc-ia.us.