South Riding Celebration Drew Thousands
A look at the South Riding Independence Day celebration from correspondent Val Cavalheri.
Bikes decorated for the Star Spangled South Riding parade. (Photo by Val Cavalheri)
The 4th annual "Star Spangled South Riding" celebration on July 3 began with an old-fashioned neighborhood parade where about a thousand participants rode decorated bicycles, waved from wagons, and walked strollers through a half-mile trek on Center Street.
By 6:30 p.m. cars lined nearby streets and approximately 5,000 people descended on the South Riding Golf Club for an evening of entertainment that included the band Kings of Swing and 15 minutes of fireworks set to patriotic music.
"I can't believe all of this is happening right here in my neighborhood," said Joel Wasserman, a long-time resident of South Riding.
Another homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous, wondered who was footing the bill for the event. "Don't get me wrong," she said, "I had a blast, but this had to have cost a fortune." Wanting to give credit to the benefactor, calls were made to the Proprietary, but not returned before publication time.
With fireworks shows around Loudoun from June 30 to July 4, pyrotechnic fans could get their fill in a span of a few days. Association-run communities such as Ashburn Village, Brambleton and South Riding did not heavily promote what they consider to be events for their own residents, but that did not stop people from nearby communities from crashing.
Who do you think hosted the best Independence Day celebration?
By Tammi Marcoullier |
July 6, 2007; 7:25 AM ET
| Category:
Events & Entertainment
Previous: News Tap: Road Kill, Drive Thrus, Skins Camp |
Next: "Triangle Interchange" for New Wegmans
Posted by: Buffettbassman | July 8, 2007 08:37 PM
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Posted by: Heywood Jablome | July 9, 2007 08:48 AM
Don't you love it when cookie-cutter exurbs pretend like they're actual small towns?
Posted by: Mr. Hooper | July 9, 2007 02:25 PM
The "cookie cutter" exurb you seek to offend is neither cookie cutter nor small. With over 5,500 current residences (and 7,000 upon completion) and over 15,000 current residents it is larger than most of the towns in LoCo. For a freakishly low monthly assessment, the residents get incredible major events (and weekly ones through the summer) plus great services from a friendly staff. If only the towns could be as safe, efficient, well maintained and family friendly as South Riding!
Posted by: South Riding Rocks! | July 9, 2007 03:19 PM
South Riding is a fabulous place to live, but with all due respect, it is not a town. The HOA does not have to deal with many issues that a town (or governmental body) has to address -- police, fire, schools, jails, homelessness, drug addiction, libraries, economic development, etc. (It's a little like comparing Disney World to Orlando.) It is only because the surrounding town and county governments take care of these things that the HOA has funds to spend on discretionary items. The relatively crime-free atmosphere has nothing to do with the HOA; rather it is a function of geographic isolation and socio-economic factors.
Posted by: An HOA is not a town | July 10, 2007 09:39 AM
An HOA....
You're right. The upwardly mobile wish to isolate themselves from the "other", seeking to avoid contact with the seemier elements of society. Hence, they migrate to the far-flung exurbs and build a "community" of manicured lawns, 3500 sq ft homes and 2.5 kids where hour long commutes and anitdepressants are the norm.
Posted by: Mr. Hooper | July 10, 2007 10:21 AM
I saw the Ida Lee fireworks from a distance. I was impressed with the show.
Posted by: | July 11, 2007 09:38 AM
Post a Comment
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
Pyrotechnics? Who needs that? All we need is some firecrackers and a can of gasoline!
If you get the mixture just right...the firecrackers will blow out any fire that results from the melting asphalt.
Works like a charm! Just hope the natural gas lines aren't leaking.