(Seguin) — The Fourth of July weekend in Seguin will mark a return to normalcy in the city of Seguin. The Seguin City Council on Thursday approved a plan that would allow the city’s Biggest Small Town Fourth of July Parade in Texas to be held without any additional restrictions. That means, it will be a mostly traditional Fourth of July weekend in Seguin.
The council officially approved the parade after a survey of the public showed that people overwhelmingly supported having the event again this year, despite the concerns of some about the potential spread of COVID-19.
Main Street Director Kyle Kramm told the council that staff was recommending a few changes to make the parade safer for everyone this year. He says that includes limiting the number of people that can be a part of any parade entry.
“Because the governor says to keep even at large events, we should stay in groups of 10 or less so we would probably have that rule of on no parade entry — will there be allowed to be 10 or more people,” said Kramm.
Kramm says they will have several hand washing and hand sanitizing stations set up throughout the area, to help reduce the potential spread of the virus among those who plan to attend.
“We’ve already gotten some quotes to have 20 stations throughout the parade staging area and throughout the parade route. We are also increasing the number of portable toilets and handwashing stations along the route as well. We normally allow parade entries to walk along their route and pass out flags or koozies and things like that. We will not allow that this year. We don’t want contaminated items being handed out. We will, once again, as I mentioned will increase our promotion of the live stream of the parade and then we normally also have non-profit vendors selling waters, sodas, snow cones along the parade route. We probably won’t have that this year as well just to reduce the interaction of the public. Another item would be either reducing the amount of VIP seating or having no VIP seating in order to ensure that there’s more room for the general spectators around Central Park so trying to figure out where we can put some VIP seating but still allow room for our general spectators to kind of spread out some more,” said Kramm
Much like the fireworks show that was approved by the council last month, the parade also calls for people to self-police themselves when it comes to social distancing. Mayor Don Keil says that they are encouraging people to follow the governor’s orders on social distancing, but it will not be the job of the Seguin Police Department to enforce those measures.
“I don’t know that you can keep people completely apart but it seems to me that the general public has pretty much learned to give some space to people. I think the governor’s orders, I believe, says that it is okay to gather if you have your familiar group of 10 I believe people together. They can gather and bunch together. But there is supposed to be six feet apart from the other group of 10 so how are you going to go out and count that. The thing is (with) the governor, these are all suggestions. They aren’t really laws. There are things he suggest so I want to hope that people are going to respect that,” said Keil.
Councilman Jeremy Roy was the only council member to vote against hosting the parade. Roy, who works for an area hospital, says that he was concerned about the potential spread of the virus, and wondered if more input was needed from the local medical community.
“I want a parade. I never missed one and through Rotary, I organized that for eight or so years but I think we should put a parade on but let’s assess and mitigate risk and try to follow these guidelines but I would want to hear — if it’s not the public health authority, at least our health care community because that is who is going to be impacted and maybe I’m speaking out of a personal bias because I’m there. I’m in the ICU with the ICU nurses, the patients that are under investigation, the ones that are positive. I’ve spent time with them so maybe I am a little bias,” said Roy.
Councilwoman Jet Crabb says she didn’t think additional input was needed, because the city had already given everyone a chance to have their voice heard. She says not only did they offer the survey, but they also have given the public chances to address the issue during two city council meetings.
“Everybody was given the opportunity to respond to that survey and I don’t know if you had any people from the medical community that responded or not. Some may have, some may not have. But we put out the survey and we had a tremendous amount of people that want to have this. I don’t think that there is anyone at all to have an absolute perfect, absolutely a safe parade even when there is not a virus going around. You still could possibly have problems but I do agree that the extra hand sanitizing, the courtesy signs — there comes a time when part of what you do is self-responsibility and if people really have concerns about being there, of course, they won’t be there. But there are so many that want to be there and I think if we take all the precautions we can, that’s not to say there may be some people that end coming up with COVID but we’ll never know if they picked it up there. They are already out and about in the community,” said Crabb.
The parade, which normally brings 8,000 to 10,000 people to downtown Seguin each year, is expected to have a much lighter attendance this year, despite the event being held on a Saturday. Councilman Mark Herbold says people, who are worried about the virus or who have underlying medical issues, are likely to stay home. He says the live video stream will also be a more viable option for some this year.
“We had inside church just this last Sunday. First time we held a congregation. Twenty people showed up. I think the parade is going to have a whole less folks. Those over 65 are probably not going to come. A lot of people over 65 have attended the parade. With the streaming thing, I’m even attempted to stay home and watch it on the screen but it’s not so hot,” said Herbold.
Councilman Ernest Leal says people want the parade, and he thinks there will be more than adequate space for people to spread out along the parade route this year.
“A lot of people have been saying to me that it’s like a tradition to have it every year. Of course, they are concerned about what’s going on this year about COVID-19 but I imagine there is a lot of people out there that are smart and if they are scared of what’s going on, they’ll probably stay home and I’m pretty sure if there’s going to be less floats this year, that’s going to open up more space for the people that are out there watching the parade and practicing social distancing,” said Leal.
City officials remind citizens that they are still encouraged to practice social distancing from people who are not a part of their household, but the fireworks show, and parade will go on as previously planned. The fireworks show will be held at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3 in Max Starcke Park; and the parade is slated for 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4 in downtown Seguin.
Freedom Fiesta, sponsored by KWED, is tentatively scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 in Central Park. Due to the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions, Freedom Fiesta is being modified, and it will be less of a festival and more like a concert in the park. It will be a free event, where people are allowed stretch out and practice social distancing. It will not include the traditional food booths and game vendors this year.