NAZARETH, Pa. — For Brittany Reese, walking in the borough’s Fourth of July Kazoo Parade meant passing down the tradition to the next generation.
“I watched it as a kid growing up in Nazareth,” said Reese Thursday morning. “And now, I’m bringing my son to walk in it.
“It really is a full-circle moment.”
For two decades, borough officials have celebrated Independence Day by handing out hundreds of kazoos and American flags to residents before parading through the streets, blaring patriotic songs the entire time. With roots in an attempt to break a world record, the event has changed over the years, but has kept the same route, from the high school to Council Chambers.
“It’s a really nice time to get the community together,” Reese said, in between buzzing kazoos with her 3-year-old son, Tripp. “Your inner child comes out, and you get to be with everybody.”
The Nazareth Kazoo parade has begun! pic.twitter.com/F9TsKweprR
— Molly Bilinski, artisanal sentence crafter (@MollyBilinski) July 4, 2024
Canceled, rescheduled
This year's parade almost didn’t happen.
Last month, the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce, who had taken over running the parade in recent years, announced its cancelation in a Facebook post. It was scheduled for the weekend following the Fourth of July.
Officials did not give a reason, but said it would be “passed to the Borough of Nazareth in 2025, with the intention of reinstating it next year.”
“In aligning with our mission, we will continue to be a voice and an advocate for Nazareth businesses,” according to the post. “We will serve as a catalyst for business to business collaboration providing networking and marketing opportunities which can positively impact profitability and awareness.”
The response from residents was a mix of sadness and anger, so borough officials stepped in.
“There was a pretty big backlash on social media. People were upset that it wasn't gonna happen.”Nazareth Mayor Lance Colondo
“There was a pretty big backlash on social media,” said Lance Colondo, the borough’s mayor. “People were upset that it wasn't gonna happen.”
Colondo, along with Council President Dan Chiavaroli, joined forces with Tina Smith, a borough resident and director of Community and Economic Development for Northampton County, to see if the event could be salvaged.
“We asked her, ‘Do you think there's anything you can do to help?’ because we did reach out to some other organizations, but nobody really felt they could put it together in time,” Colondo said. “But Tina felt that if we did an abbreviated [event], the parade only and skip the program down at Council Chambers, that she could put it together.
“Thank goodness she did. We’re excited about it.”
Previously, the parade was held each Fourth of July. It started in 2004 as an attempt to break the world record for the most people playing kazoos at once.
“Which was like 3,000 people and they didn't get anywhere close to it,” Colondo said. “I think they had about 400 attendees, but they decided to continue to do it as an annual event.”
When the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce absorbed the borough’s chamber, the parade’s date was changed to the weekend to bolster local businesses, Colondo said.
However, changing the date had the opposite effect — attendance declined.
‘Yankee Doodle’ on kazoo
After word of the cancelation spread, residents banded together with local officials to pull off the parade anyway.
Well over 100 people were there Thursday morning, dressed in patriotic colors, some even decorating their vehicles, as well as strollers and wagons. None seemed to mind the change in program.
“This year, with everything that happened and trying to put it together quickly, we forwent the grand marshal,” Colondo said. “And, when it ends at council chambers, there used to be a short musical program, singing some patriotic songs.
“The grand marshal would say a few words. I'd say a few words. We’re forgone that this year just in the interest of time to try to put this together.”
As the parade moved through the borough, participants played kazoo renditions of “You're a Grand Old Flag,” “Yankee Doodle,” “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
Residents peeked out their doors and windows, waving at the parade as it passed by.
“It's just one of those quirky events that started 20 years ago,” Colondo said. “And I'm excited about it because it's just one of those events that makes it great to be a resident in Nazareth, and, of course, to be its mayor.
“It's just a great great tradition to take place and take part in.”
