Do You Love A Parade?

Dunwoody prides itself on its Fourth of July Parade. This year the tradition will proudly continue. The first thing to know is to be there before 9 a.m. - the parade down Mt. Vernon Road will begin a half hour early this year.

Like every year, the parade promises marching bands, floats, clowns, animals and all the stuff that makes a parade fun for kids and adults. Last year the event attracted 2,500 participants and 32,000 spectators, according to organizers.

Speaking of organizers, the major sponsors of the party are the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier - below is information both have provided to help you get around and enjoy yourself Wednesday.

• Parade route: Is 2.7 miles. It starts at Jett Ferry Road and Mount Vernon and ends at the center of the action in Dunwoody Village. It's about an hour walk from where you can easily park in Dunwoody Village to the end of the parade route.

• Parking: Dunwoody Village parking lot. Volunteers will guide you to parking for the parade.

• Road closure: If you're not going to the parade and you're still in town (we're scratching our head on that one) Mt. Vernon Road along the parade route will be closed.

• Parade Highlights:  The H-60 Black Hawk helicopter will fly over the parade route from its home at Dobbins Air Force Base and then land for splay in Dunwoody Village. Pretty unique chance to see some of the military's top technology. Calvary Church hosts a kids zone near Goodyear Tire. Jump houses, face painting and games are there for the kids. Harry the Hawk - none other than the Atlanta Hawks mascot - will be on hand on parade day. Kids might get a kick out of the Idaho Potato Tour Truck, which also be in Dunwoody Village.

• And, of course, Food: Boy Scout Troop 266 will sell generous barbecue meals that include watermelon and a drink for $8. The Rotary Club will sell hot dogs and Georgia Youth Flight Basketball will sell Snow Cones.

• Don't forget to honor a soldier: Pebble Tossers, a non-profit organization focused on youth service, will collect Thank You Cards for veterans and soldiers along the parade route. Make your cards at home and hand them off to the volunteers who will get them to the right spot. They're headed to the VA Hspital in Decatur July 5. You can also drop cards off at local businesses, including Mellow Mushroom, Village Burger, Dunwoody Hall Cleaners, Priluck and Nordone Dentistry and Yogli Mogli.