Kids bring out the big guns – and water guns – Coastal Observer

Kids bring out the big guns – and water guns – Coastal Observer

Candy and beaded necklaces were tossed out of golf carts down Hanover Street, where children hollered and laughed, jumping to catch the treats and racing each other to see who could grab the fallen pieces of candy first.  In the blazing morning heat of Fourth of July, children were either riding in a float or chasing one down the street with water balloons. The Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet parades are known for elaborate float designs on classic cars, boats and trucks, but North Litchfield’s Children’s Parade brings the neighborhood together in a way that anyone can participate.  Instead of using floats with internal combustion engines, participants head south on Hanover Drive, cruising through sprinklers on decorated golf carts, bicycles, skateboards and more.  Still exciting, the simplicity makes it safer for kids on the sidelines to squirt water guns at the participants riding by and collect the candy thrown back at them.  Ann Mickle recalled the first parade in 1986, when it was made up of just decorated bicycles. The parade has since grown in size and creativity.  This year, one group dressed in red-striped uniforms rode on hoverboards alongside their golf cart covered in cardboard, designed as a 1950s-themed ice cream truck.  The most popular float among the crowd was a golf cart replicating an Army tank, the cart itself completely enclosed by material while children dressed as soldiers sat on top of, tossing candy. One child, Emma Robinson, danced around in an oversized button-up shirt that looked like a giant American flag. “I took it from my dad,” she said, showing off the shirt.  While she danced, Emma sang the word “America” loud and proud. “It’s America’s 250th birthday,” she said. Emma thought her family had the best float. Their golf cart had a giant white beard made of poster board taped to the front with black glasses made of felt fabric above, and a red, white and blue felt top hat sitting on top.  “We got Uncle Sam over here,” Emma said. Throughout the parade, she stood on the back of the golf cart spraying a water gun into the air. Emma’s mom collected candy for her on the sidelines so that Emma could still participate on the float without going home empty-handed. Richard Cobbs said his family enjoys how close-knit the parade is, where almost all the neighbors participate or watch.  “The children love it,” he said.  Cobbs and his family live in Virginia but also own a house in Litchfield. His granddaughter, Katie Beth, 11, said the Fourth of July is her favorite holiday “because it’s at the beach,” where they all stay with the grandparents for the month.  Cobbs and his wife, Susan, have watched their grandchildren participate in the parade every year for the past 15 years.  “Stand up Charlie,” said Cobbs, pointing to his grandson. “We’ve been doing it since he was a little bitty baby,” he said. “We had a cart with a little bitty wagon, and he was holding a flag.” Charlie, who is now 16, traded out the bitty wagon to sit in the front of a trailer hauled by a golf cart, seven of his cousins sitting behind him, all chanting “USA Boom!” A rope dragged behind the trailer that Katie Beth held on to while roller blading down the street. She thought she would lose her balance at some point, but she stood tall the entire ride.