Patriotism Celebration In Bel Air: Car Parade Time, Route

BEL AIR, MD — Patriotic festivities are planned Friday night in Bel Air. First, a car parade will travel from Harford Mall to Shamrock Park. There, music and a speaker will get people in the spirit to celebrate Independence Day.

The Patriotism Celebration is coordinated by the Republican Alliance of Harford County.

"As you know, many Independence Day celebrations had been canceled as a result of COVID-19, and the Alliance felt it was important to provide a platform for community members to outwardly honor the birthday of our great nation," Aaron Penman, who helped organize the event, told Bel Air Patch.

The celebration starts at 6 p.m. Friday at the Harford Mall, where attendees can get free American flags that were made in America.

"The hope is that all participants display our nation's flag proudly and respectfully while traveling in unity, in vehicles, to Shamrock Park in Bel Air," Penman said.

Patriotic music will be playing at the park when guests arrive. Tony Campbell is the featured speaker, and the night will close out with a prayer, according to Penman, who expects the event to run about one hour.

"Of course, the Alliance will be recommending all participants adhere to COVID 19 guidelines for social distancing and wearing of masks," Penman said.

The Patriotism Celebration will be from Harford Mall to Shamrock Park. Vehicles can line up near the Sears end of the mall at 6 p.m. Friday, July 3.

The car parade route is from Harford Mall at 658 Baltimore Pike to Main Street to Courtland Street to Hickory Avenue to Lee Way to Shamrock Park.

No police escort will be in place for the car parade, according to Penman. Although the group tried to but could not get a permit from the town of Bel Air due to the pandemic, he said the town had agreed to acknowledge the First Amendment right of the participants to assemble.