On the Fourth of July each year, the world seems to beat a path to the usually sleepy community of Meeksville in rural Pike County. People come from near and far to experience a simple hometown, anything goes Independence Day Parade. 

“The parade lines up between 9 and 9:30 a.m. around Scotty’s Store in Meeksville and everybody stands around and has a good time waiting for the parade to start,” said Earnest Green, a longtime member of the sponsoring Meeksville Volunteer Fire Department. “What makes the Meeksville Parade different is that it’s an anything goes Fourth of July parade.  You can either decorate a ride or grab one.”

The homefolks parade has tricycles, antique tractors, wagons, mules, motorcycles, floats, beauty queens and dozens of other things.

“If you don’t have a ride, you can just grab one,” Green said. “And, if you can’t be in the parade, you can have the fun of bringing candy to throw or just put on a hat or open an umbrella and enjoy the parade.”

The one-mile Meeksville Parade will culminate at Harmony Park where people of all ages can enjoy a car show, country music, barbecue plates, arts and crafts, ice cream, a raffle and the fellowship of friends and neighbors.