JP Gradone, COO of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, the sponsor of this event, said,  “Although the parade itself may be a little smaller, due to scheduling changes, we feel it is more important to have a safe and smaller parade, than no parade at all.”

Parade changed to Saturday, July 5, at 10:30 am.  Here is the official press release:

(July 2, 2014)  Due to inclement weather, Ocean Grove’s Independence Day Parade has been postponed until Saturday, July 5 at 10:30 AM.

The parade begins on Whitefield Avenue and turns east along Main Avenue to Central Avenue; then turns north towards Ocean Pathway, then east again ending along Ocean Avenue.

Ocean Grove’s parade is a community, township, county, and state-wide event. Some of the parade bands have been an active part of the Ocean Grove parade for decades.

Among this year’s musical participants are: 

Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch

Monmouth County Police and Fire Pipes and Drums

Ocean Grove Summer Band

Neptune High School Marching Band

Shade Tree Mechanics Rockin’ Blues

The 2014 parade Grand Marshals are: Neptune Township officials Vito D. Gadaleta, Business Administrator; Richard J. Cuttrell, Municipal Clerk; and Michael J. Bascom, Emergency Management Coordinator/Chief Financial Officer.

The Ocean Grove Parade has been recognized by the Asbury Park Press as “one of the best parades in the Garden State.” The Star Ledger says the annual Independence Day parade “remains a civic extravaganza of fire trucks, marching bands and volunteer group floats. It has an official motto – “The Best Fourth of July parade in America” – and is the daytime star of the weekend. The evening star is the Great Auditorium concert.

Ocean Grove will kick off the holiday weekend with a concert by the Imperial Brass on Thursday, July 3, 2014 (7:30 pm) in the Great Auditorium.

On Saturday, July 5 (12 Noon), Gordon Turk will perform a free Independence Day concert on the Great Auditorium Pipe Organ. 

The Ocean Grove Summer Band will cap off the evening with a free concert, “One Nation, Under God” at 8 pm.

JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA   ‘THE THUNDERER”