The streets of Wyomissing were lined with cheering families and waving flags Friday morning as the borough’s beloved Independence Day Parade stepped off at 10 a.m., bringing with it a vibrant display of music, patriotism, and community spirit.
This year’s parade, part of a two-day celebration, was led by the renowned Greater Kensington String Band of Philadelphia, a crowd favorite best known for its colorful Mummers-style performances. With their signature strut and high-energy music, the group helped set the tone for a morning full of celebration. They were joined by an impressive lineup of musical groups, including the Buccaneers Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps, Hawk Mountain Highlanders, Rajah Chanters, and several others that brought a rich soundtrack to the day.
Parade participants included pageant winners, WWII veterans, Scout troops, classic cars, local sports teams like the Reading Royals and Fightin’ Phils, and even a few high school class reunions, all adding a nostalgic and festive atmosphere to the procession.
This year’s Grand Marshal, Betty O’Connell, a Navy veteran and lifelong nurse, was honored with applause as she rode along the route. A Reading native, O’Connell served during World War II with the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), caring for wounded service members in a California naval hospital. Now 98, she resides at the Highlands at Wyomissing and remains an active presence in the community.
The celebration officially began earlier in the morning with the annual Firecracker Family Fun Run, a 1.2-mile dash along the parade route kicked off by longtime resident Coach Tim Hetrich and his replica 18th-century flintlock musket.
Thursday night’s fireworks display at the Wyomissing Pool, drew large crowds as the skies lit up in a dazzling show that served as a festive prelude to Friday’s events.
Following the parade, the celebration continued at the Stone House Lawn with family-friendly activities, food vendors, games, bounce houses, and the always-popular pie-eating contest.
As Mayor Fred Levering noted ahead of the festivities, “The Fourth of July in Wyomissing is more than just a celebration—it’s a homecoming.” And for the many who turned out to take part, it was exactly that: a joyful gathering of neighbors, friends, and generations coming together to honor the holiday in true Wyomissing tradition.