Volunteer Marshals Needed For Bel Air's Fourth Of July Parade

BEL AIR, MD — Volunteers to serve as parade marshals are needed for Bel Air's Fourth of July parade.

“It takes as many as 40 persons to make sure the parade units are staged and deploy properly,” Parade Chairman Michael Blum said.

The parade, which runs up Main Street, starts at 6 p.m. July 4. This year’s theme is celebrating Harford County’s 250th anniversary.

There is no age limit and no prior experience is necessary to be a parade marshal. All marshals younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult while working and be able to walk long distances.

Those new to marshaling must attend a training session at 6 p.m. July 2 in the Bel Air Police Department’s community room at 39 N. Hickory Avenue. The session should last about 90 minutes.

During the pre-parade staging period, marshals help participants get to their assigned spot in the parade, make sure everyone in a unit is present and inform the parade director if anyone is missing. Plus, marshals help control traffic so anyone not involved in the parade is kept away from the staging location. Parade units enter the staging area at Route 924 and MacPhail Road.

Once the parade kicks off, marshals walk with their assigned unit along the route starting at Main and Idlewild Streets, then heading north on Main Street all the way to Gordon Street. Marshals ensure all participants stay in formation and look for any issues or problems that might come up during the parade.

Youth marshals could use their time working on the parade to count towards community service hours required by their schools or Scouting organizations. There is no monetary compensation, but all marshals receive official Bel Air Independence Day Committee T-shirts and hats, plus water, Gatorade and as many hot dogs as they can eat, organizers said.

Anybody who wants to be a parade marshal can show interest by using the form on the right-hand side of the volunteer page of the Independence Day Committee website – select “being a parade marshal” in the drop-down menu under “Your Main Interest.” The committee will contact everyone who sends in the form.