By Holly Parsons
Correspondent

Idyllwild’s Fourth of July celebrations begin with the 57th-annual parade the Idyllwild Rotary Club has sponsored for over 20 years. This classic small-town parade is long on substance, and short on boredom.

The parade is one of a variety of traditions heralding freedom, liberty and neighborly love on this tectonic day. Yet in 1776, the defining issues driving the 13 colony’s ultimate stipulation for independence from England detail spectacles of oppression in graphic detail.

The Declaration of Independence holds accountable in no uncertain terms, specifically the King of England for colonial exploitation. Its language would ultimately stand as a definitive demarcation for democratic societies worldwide.

America holds forth as a beacon moving toward realizations of unity and freedom for all — celebrated consecutively on this auspicious day for 347 years and counting.

Drafted by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston, its last line is notable. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

The Idyllwild Rotary parades

Undoubtedly, this powerful statement of unity consciousness and rectitude underpinning the objectives of our most cherished U.S. institutions — includes that of Rotary International.

Since 1958, Rotary International’s Idyllwild Chapter offers a shining example of a pledge to inclusion and quality of life equal for all. This pledge is principally evident by the multiplicity of events the Rotary sponsors annually, including this parade. Its members’ selfless dedication symbolizes an especially poignant commitment to strengthening community unity.

This year the parade will host Rotary District 5330 Governor Jennifer Zinn, representing 61 clubs, 1,915 members and current Rotary President David Cutter. Zinn is on deck to witness the Rotary Club of Idyllwild in action … whose community events and fundraising efforts directly impact hundreds of lives on the Hill.

Educational scholarships alone gifted from The Idyllwild Rotary Charitable Foundation total more than $5,000 annually. Also, the local Rotary contributed about $15,000 to help sustain 30 Idyllwild nonprofits in 2022. Idyllwild is a tiny village, rich in culture, cooperation and mutual aid, thanks to the generosity of all its nonprofits, not the least of which is Rotary.

Grand marshal

This year’s 4th of July Parade is proud to honor Dr. Marshall Hawkins as grand marshal. Idyllwild has been the beneficiary of Hawkins’ residency since 1974. His presence on the Hill, both personally and musically as a jazz master performer, educator and founder of the Idyllwild Arts Academy’s jazz program, is unsurpassed. Many distinguished artists call Idyllwild home but Hawkins’ ongoing contributions and generosity of spirit are legendary.

Much has been written about this extraordinary man, yet underneath his modest countenance one consistent message prevails: “The heart is the only language in jazz; it gives us humans a rite of passage. It’s an experience we all can share,” he said.

And share he has. When asked how many albums he’s cut, his response, “My students are my albums.” Hawkins’ jazz can be enjoyed weekly in sessions with his trio at Ferro.

Historically speaking

Memories abound in the colloquial mind of another local celebrity, Marge Muir. Founder of Muirs Mountain Realty upwards of 40 years ago, Muir was for decades an active contributor to and organizer of the Idyllwild community.

Muir’s earliest memories of an Idyllwild parade is the Bear Festival Parade and yes a bear, dutifully caged, presided, as did Muir, who organized the first. Local businesses like Kretzinger Plumbing towed a flat bed with a volunteer sitting bald eagle on a toilet and the local Jeep club paraded as well. “Everyone came out to help,” she recalls.

Somewhere along the line the Bear Festival gave way to the 4th of July Parade. Muir remembers, “There were always horses, lots of horses and Bud Hunt [rest his soul] drove the honey wagon behind just to tidy up. We even had a silver mountain man one year,” Muir mused.

“Then Rotary took over the parade with the addition of multiple car clubs,” Muir bemoaned, “and staging the parade took over Fern Valley Corners instead of the picnic atmosphere existing when 70 or so people seated together waited for the parade to advance from North Circle and Tahquitz Drive. I liked it better,” she stated.

Parade information to know

The parade will originate from Fern Valley Corners and proceed to the town center at 10 a.m. with more than 40 participants. Organizers suggest viewers pack breakfast, bring water, set up seating preferably toward the top of North Circle, where the view is best, the day prior or early on the Tuesday, July 4.

Rotary parade organizers appreciate public cooperation: Vehicle access is restricted at 8 a.m. and denied at 9 a.m. from the intersection of North Circle Drive and Highway 243 all the way up to Fern Valley Corners and include staging areas below:

• 8 a.m.: Entries line up from Fern Valley Corners on South Circle down Tahquitz, Middle and Upper Pine Crest, Jameson (all nonparade traffic will be restricted).

• 9 a.m.: All thru traffic will be restricted coming up North Circle, Village Center Drive, Middle Pine Crest, Jameson, Tahquitz to South Circle and from Pine Crest to South Circle.

• Diversion maps will be handed out to drivers to get around the parade set-up and route.

• 10 a.m.-noon: Parade