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Retired Founder of Joan's Studio Will Lead 4th on 53rd Parade

By Sam Cholke | June 25, 2015 5:52am
 Hyde Parkers marched through the neighborhood en masse for the 23rd annual 4th on 53rd parade in 2014.
4th on 53rd Parade - 2014
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HYDE PARK — Joan Steggemann of Joan’s Studio for the Performing Arts will be at the head of the 4th on 53rd parade riding a tricycle.

After Steggemann retired on June 5 from 20 years of promoting music education at her studio on 57th Street, parade organizers named her the grand marshal of the annual 4th of July parade in Hyde Park.

Steggemann will be followed by more than 150 musicians and cheerleaders from the Kenwood High School band, with just about everyone from the neighborhood behind them.

It’s a tradition for anyone at anytime to be able to jump in and join the parade, and every year there is a long line of children on bikes between floats and marchers from just about every organization in the neighborhood.

“We have a couple new things that will be super fun. We have Tsukasa Taiko, a Japanese drumming group on one of our floats this year,” said Kirsten Srinivasan, one of the parade organizers. “Some of their drums are five feet in diameter, so there will be some cool, new sounds at this year's parade.”

Groups bigger than 12 are asked to register for the parade in advance.

The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. from 54th Street and Old Lake Park Avenue, but kids are asked to come as early as 9 a.m. to get their bikes decorated before assembling to march at 10 a.m.

The parade will go down East 55th Street to Hyde Park Boulevard and then march north before veering west onto 53rd Street and ending at Nichols Park.

The Independence Day celebrations continue at Nichols Park with a seed-spitting contest, a petting zoo, two magicians and more.

Parade organizers are still looking for volunteers to help everything run smoothly on the 4th of July, hang flags and banners beforehand and cleanup afterwards.

To volunteer, call Stephanie Franklin at 773-955-3622 or e-mail 4thon53rdstreet@gmail.com.

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