Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren County Youth Cheerleaders cheer Tuesday at the Reviewing Stand at the east end of the 75th annual Warren County 4th of July Parade.

The parade went in a different direction, but it went well and reactions were overwhelmingly positive.

In fact, more than a few people suggested to Parade and Warren County Fourth of July organization chairman Bill Thompson that the parade could go east on a regular basis.

“Nothing but positive,” Thompson said. “I had some people say, ‘Why don’t you do this every other year?'”

“A lot of people were saying that it looked like there were more people in the yards,” he said. “They were having picnics.”

That’s just not possible along the standard route — there aren’t many residences along Pennsylvania Avenue from Conewango Avenue to Laurel Street.

“I thought things went well,” City Manager Mike Holtz said. “Having the parade go east was a positive… something different. It was nice to have a different route… have the east side businesses benefit.”

“I want to thank Blue Line Auto for allowing us to do our grandstand up there,” Thompson said. “It was big enough that we could park there, we had restrooms there…”

“It was good,” Holtz said. “Crowds were better. The weather was great. We hope that every year is this successful.”

The eastbound parade was successful, but it’s not in the plans as a regular thing. With construction of the roundabout wrapping up this construction season, the reason for having the parade go that way will be gone.

“The plans are to go back to the normal route,” Thompson said.

The roundabout itself shouldn’t pose any particular challenges to the parade.

“I don’t see it being a problem,” he said. “They should be able to shuttle right through there.”

Next year’s parade will include a memorial.

While Wally Post, the voice and face of the parade for many years, was recognized during this year’s parade, the committee will have more time to honor him properly next year. Post passed away June 4 and was named by the City of Warren as the honorary grand marshal for the parade “from this day forward.”

The 76th annual parade will include a memorial and the placement of a plaque near the Reviewing Stand (which was also proclaimed to be named for Post) location at Gen. Joseph Warren Park, Thompson said.

The parade included more units than any Thompson remembers. “Usually, there are about 78 units,” he said. “This was over 100. The participation for this parade was phenomenal.”

With the new direction and a bumper crop of units, there were some snags at the start. “The forming area was a little hectic,” Thompson said. “They had to shuttle things around. They got through it.”

There was also significant traffic on Madison Avenue after the parade.

Thompson said the committee would work on having better internal communications in the future and look for a better location to stage big trucks and long floats.

“We take it all into consideration,” Thompson said. “I already have two or three entries for the 76th.”