PLANTATION, Fla. – Red, white, and blue was on full display as the city of Plantation’s annual Independence Day parade got underway Friday morning, with Local 10’s Andrew Perez unexpectedly finding himself in the middle of it.
“Yeah, well, number one, I don’t know how I ended up in this parade,” Perez said with a laugh. “We were just supposed to be covering it from the sidelines, but here I am.
The parade made its way west down West Broward Boulevard, eventually heading toward City Hall. Crowds gathered along the route, waving flags as the city’s SWAT team, fire department, BSO deputies, and more took part in the celebration.
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One of the standout participants was this year’s Grand Marshal and “Broward Pioneer,” Miki Ostendorf, also known as “Ms. Miki,” who’s worked at the local library for 31 years and taught nearby at Parkway Elementary School.
“I work at the library in the children’s room, so I’m expecting to see a lot of kids on the route,” she said, surrounded by her grandchildren. “Well, it’s because I actually like all the people that I get to be with.”
Anelle Rose told Local 10 News that she has been coming to the Plantation parade for about a decade with her family.
“It’s been around since the 50’s,” she said. “To celebrate the Fourth, and what that means -- It’s tradition at its best.”
“My boy is 28 and I remember taking my boy when he was 3. We sat over there on those bleachers and watched these people pull by,” said Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal.
The parade is just the start of Plantation’s festivities.
A patriotic pool party is set to take place at the Planation Aquatic Complex, and the city’s big fireworks show kicks off at 7 p.m.
Click here for a full list of South Florida Fourth of July events.