Bel Air Independence Day Parade: Full List of 2016 Winners

Pictured, the Harford County Sheriff's Office won first place in the 2016 Bel Air Independence Day Parade for its color guard. Photo Credit: Harford County Sheriff's Office.

Bel Air, MD — The Bel Air Independence Day Parade went on despite the rain on Monday, and organizers said given the conditions it drew an "astonishingly large crowd."

Six volunteer judges reviewed the dozens of floats, bands, novelty acts and others marching down Main Street, and the following were deemed the winners, officials announced Wednesday:

Best in Parade—Floats

• 1st place: Oak Grove Baptist Church
• 2nd place: Girl Scout Troop 2825
• 3rd place: Baha'i's of Bel Air
• 4th place: Harford Stockyards 4H Club
• 5th place: Harford Christian School

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Best in Parade—Equestrian Units

• 1st place: America in Miniature
• 2nd place: Hall's Honey Pots

Best in Parade—Bands and Drum Corps

• 1st place: Carolina Gold Drum & Bugle Corps
• 2nd place: Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps
• 3rd place: John F. Nicoll Pipes & Drums
• 4th place: Core Visual Performing Arts

Best in Parade—Antique Vehicles

• 1st place: Elmer & Kathleen Smith Antique Car and Tractor
• 2nd place: Sing It America! Dr. Shelli Manuel
• 3rd place: Maryland State Police Alumni Association

Best in Parade—Color Guards

• 1st place: Harford County Sheriff's Office
• 2nd place: 20th CBRNE Command
• 3rd place: Bel Air American Legion Post #39

Best Parade Units (not including floats):

• 1st place: Avondell/Brightview Assisted Living
• 2nd place: Harford County Creative Problem Solvers - Destination Imagination
• 3rd place: Alpha-Omega Offroad & Christian Ministry
• 4th place: Ronald Tew - 1914 Indian Motorcycle Replica
• 5th place: Dance With Me School of Dance

Best in Parade—Emergency Services

• 1st place: Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company
• 2nd place: Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company

Best in Parade—Comic/Novelty Acts

• 1st place: Michael Rosman's Circus Camp Stars
• 2nd place: The Magic Continues Character Company
• 3rd place: The Zombie Terpadactyl

“Absolutely Unique" Entry

• Harford County Fire Prevention Ambassadors & Safety House

Units Deserving Particular Mention

• Most Patriotic: Miss Appalachia 2016 Allison Redman
• Most Popular with the Crowd: Miss Bel Air 2016 Carrianne Cicero

Judges' Awards for Entries of Special Merit:

• Edgewood High School Marching Band
• Fallston High School Marching Band
• John Carroll School Marching Band
• Level Volunteer Fire Company
• Edible Arrangements
• Harford County Detachment 1198 Marine Corps League
• C. Milton Wright High School Marching Band

Parade winners will be contacted by the Bel Air Independence Day Committee to receive their awards, which include cash and plaques, according to committee members.

A fireworks show over Rockfield Park rounded out the Fourth of July festivities.

Related: Bel Air Parade, Fireworks Go On in Rain

Before the parade and fireworks, the town hosted a series of family friendly competitions and events. Winners received ribbons or trophies.

Horseshoe Pitching in Rockfield Park
Women's Singles Champion: Connie Nichols, Peach Bottom, PA; 2nd place: Breanna Smith, Darlington, MD

Women's Doubles Champions: Vicki Smith, Darlington, MD; and Breanna Smith, Darlington, MD; 2nd place: Bonnie Schleicher, Bel Air, MD; and Velma Schleicher, Bel Air, MD

Men's Singles Champion: Glenn Sargable, Aberdeen, MD; 2nd place: Doug Anderson, Bel Air, MD
Men's Double Champion: Norm Meadows, Bel Air, MD; and Jeff Dandy, Bel Air, MD; 2nd place: Doug Anderson, Bel Air, MD; and Mark Farrington, Bel Air, MD

Water Balloon Toss in Shamrock Park
Ages 6 and under: James from Kingsville and Chloe from Forest Hill
Ages 7-10: Donovan from Forest Hill and Collin from Bel Air
Ages 13 - adult: Mike Gurgen and partner from Bel Air and Fallston
2nd place: Liz and Margaret from Bel Air and Abingdon

Costume Contest in the Shamrock Park Bandshell
Patriotic Costumes

• 1st place: Lacy Harry and Jace Brown, of Bel Air, MD, as "Beribboned Cousins"
• 2nd place: Jeff Hopkins of Bel Air, MD, as a "Legal Alien [Predator]"
• 3rd place: Wyatt Orman and Jacob Virden of North Harford, as "flag people"

Generic or Traditional Costumes

• 1st place: Nate Harry, of Bel Air, MD, as a "Whoopie Cushion"
• 2nd place: Sydney Hergan, of Bel Air, MD, as "Dog Lover"
• 3rd place: Christina Andrews, of Bel Air, MD, as "Baby!"

Uncle Sam Says in Shamrock Park

Ages 5-7

1st place: Lillian Ramsey-Meyers, Bel Air, MD

2nd place: Lilliana Kish, Abingdon, MD

3rd place: Braydon Cantas, Abingdon, MD

Ages 8-10

Amella Daniels, North East, MD
William Zayas, Bel Air, MD
Donovan Gannon, Forest Hill, MD
Ages 11-13
Riely Binder, Bel Air, MD
Brenna Franklin, Bel Air, MD
Lily Green, Forest Hill, MD
Ages 14+
Madison Battaglia, Bel Air, MD
Matt Battaglia, Bel Air, MD

Margaret Palmer, Bel Air, MD

Watermelon Eating Contest in Shamrock Park

Ages 6 and under

1st place: Rowen Liles, Bel Air, MD

2nd place: Jane Flynn, Abingdon, MD3rd place: Kyle Petz

Ages 7-10

1st place: Nate Harry, Bel Air, MD

2nd place: Jake Hartman, Bel Air, MD

3rd place: Ava Pippitt, Bel Air, MD

Ages 11-16

1st place: Anthony Romano, Bel Air, MD

2nd place: Connor Mace, Bel Air, MD
3rd place: Charles Romano, Bel Air, MD
Ages 17+
1st place: Brian Daniels, North East, MD
2nd place: Jeff Tolson, Bel Air, MD
3rd place: Bobby Weaver, Bel Air, MD

Bicycle Rodeo at the Bel Air Armory

Best Decorated, Boys: Sam Bradshaw, Bel Air, MD

Best Decorated Tricycle: Lily Coleman, Delta, PA

2nd place: Grant Parrish, Bel Air, MD

3rd place: Emory Parrish, Bel Air, MD

1st place, Ages 5 and under: Sarah Nimmo, Chesapeake, VA

2nd place, Ages 5 and under: Bret Burrows, Bel Air, MD

3rd place, Ages 5 and under: Emily Butler, Bel Air, MD

1st place, Ages 6-8: Savannah Edwards, Fallston, MD

2nd place, Ages 6-8: Ryan Ramsey, Bel Air, MD

3rd place, Ages 6-8: Elena Bennett, Bel Air, MD

1st place, Ages 9-10: Jacob Michalesko, Tegacay, SC

2nd place, Ages 9-10: Anna Bennett, Bel Air, MD

3rd place, Ages 9-10: Elizabeth Herron, Forest Hill, MD

1st place, Ages 11-13: Norman Jones, Delta, PA

2nd place, Ages 11-13: Drew Evans, Bel Air, MD