Photo submitted to Times Observer From left, Warren B.P.O. of Elks Lodge 223 Exalted Ruler Todd Honhart is pictured with Warren County Fourth of July Organization, Chairman Bill Thompson after the Elks made a donation to the 2023 Fourth of July Parade.

The 2023 edition of the Warren Fourth of July Parade will have a different twist to it this year.

“This is the 75th annual parade,” Warren County Fourth of July Organization Chairman Bill Thompson said. “We’re celebrating the Diamond Anniversary.”

The theme of the parade is “75 Years and Going Strong.”

Part of that Diamond jubilee will be changes associated with the downtown roundabout.

The parade will go in a direction opposite of its usual path.

“Everything’s going to get flip-flopped,” Thompson said. “We’re still using the same forming area down by the YMCA. We’re going to start down here by Conewango Towers on Lexington Avenue.”

“We’re going to turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue,” he said. “We’ll end at Marion Street – Warren Shurfine, Warren Tire. The reviewing area will be at Blue Line Auto.”

The negotiations with Blue Line opened last year when news of roundabout construction was in the air, he said. “They reached out to me last year. We’ll have their whole parking lot.”

Parade registrations were strong as of Tuesday, Thompson said. “Normally, we have around total 78 registrations. I’m at 71 and growing.”

Registrations will continue to be accepted into next week.

The parade sponsors are United Refining Company, Kwik Fill, Red Apple, and Country Fair.

The rest of the four-day celebration will be largely familiar.

The festivities kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at Betts Park.

“We have the food trucks and craft vendors down there daily from 1 to 10 p.m., co-sponsored by Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry,” Thompson said. “There will be face-painting and a petting zoo at the park throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, “the Fireman’s Water Battle will be at 1 p.m. From 1 until 4 p.m., Warren’s Got Talent, Drop the Mic, 2.0.”

The Saturday night concert will feature Echoes on the Water from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Sunday, the food trucks and craft vendors will be at the park all day. There will be a cruise-in from 1 to 5 p.m.

Warren’s Got Talent continues from 2 to 5 p.m. with the Top 10 finalists.

The Porcelain Bus Drivers will perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

Monday’s festivities include the food trucks and craft vendors and music, with the addition of the Cutest Baby Contest. Registrations will be accepted at 3:30 p.m., with the contest starting at 4 p.m. “That’s something very popular,” Thompson said.

The music for the evening will be performed from 7 to 10 p.m. by Night Shift.

“Tuesday, July 4, starts with the Grand Parade at 11 a.m.,” Thompson said. “We have a pre-parade show at the reviewing area.”

Thompson said the Warren Area Jaycees Alumni “are a big part of this parade.”

The Jaycees organized the parade for most of its first 75 years.

Following the Pennsylvania Avenue East version of the parade, the food and craft vendors will reopen at Betts Park.

“Music on Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. will be by Blue Morning – the Foreigner tribute band,” Thompson said.

“The gigantic fireworks display by Gibson Fireworks” will wrap up the festivities at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

After the grand finale, the winners of the grand prize ticket drawings will be selected.

Tickets are $5, or three for $10.

The Grand Prize is $5,000 and there are 38 other prizes sponsored by local businesses that will be given away.

Tickets are available in advance at Virg-Ann, Westend Keystone, and from any Fourth of July Organization member. Tickets will also be available during the parade.