For 12 years and counting, Pike County has boasted an old-fashioned, hometown parade on the Fourth of July. The tradition began in the small community of China Grove and lasted for 11 years.

In 2012, the China Grove Parade celebrated its last hoorah with a small but impressive parade through downtown China Grove and then made its way to Meeksville where the tradition of a Fourth of July Parade continued.

On Thursday, the Meeksville Volunteer Fire Department will host the Fourth of July Parade and everybody is invited to join the parade or line the parade route and show their patriotic spirit.

Mona Jackson, parade co-coordinator, said the Fourth of July Parade is an anything goes parade. Ride a lawn mower, push a baby carriage or ride an elephant.

“Just come, get in line and have fun,” Jackson said.

The parade lineup will begin around 9 a.m. and will meet on County Road 7723.

“We’ll line up in an ‘L’ shape to accommodate all the entries,” Jackson said.

The parade will get underway at 10 a.m. and follow a route from the Meeksville Fire Department on County Road 7714 to the Meeksville/Harmony Park.

Viola Head of Meeksville will be honored as the parade grand marshal.

At the park there will be a short dedication service in memory of Diane LaFountaine, a founder of the China Grove Fourth of July Parade, and Hank LaFountaine, a parade grand marshal and dedicated volunteer.

Then, everyone is invited to stay around for barbecue, banjos and a big Fourth of July good time.

“We’ll have entertainment by the Sheppard Family, the Benton Brothers and others,” Jackson said. “We’ll have barbecued chicken and rib plates for sale, with baked beans, chips, bread and cake. It will be a great time of food, music and fellowship.”

The Meeksville Fire Department is just off U.S. Highway 231 south of the Montgomery County Line on Pike County Road 7714.

Jackson said, “Just follow the crowd.”