2021 Swarthmore Independence Day Celebration

The Great Bike Race

Independence Day activities in Swarthmore are back in full swing this year. They are scheduled for Monday, July 5. Throughout the morning, the Rotary Club will offer free lemonade and the fire company will be selling hot dogs and soda from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. In the event of heavy rain, an abbreviated program will be held in the fire hall at 10:30 AM. Please check status on 7/5 at the SRA website.

Here is the schedule of events:

The Great Bike Race

• 8:15 a.m.: Bikers assemble at the corner of Princeton and Park Aves.

• 8:30 a.m.: SRA Great Bike Race will begin. Helmets required!

  • Race 1: Boys, 7 years

  • Race 2: Boys, 8 years

  • Race 3: Boys, 9 years

  • Race 4: Girls, 7 years

  • Race 5: Girls, 8 years

  • Race 6: Girls, 9 years

  • Race 7: Boys, 10 years

  • Race 8: Boys, 11 years

  • Race 9: Girls, 10 years

  • Race 10: Girls, 11 years

  • Race 11: Boys, 12 & 13 years

  • Race 12: Girls, 12 & 13 years

  • Race 13: Boys, 6 years

  • Race 14: Girls, 6 years

  • Race 15: Boys, 5 years (may use training wheels)

  • Race 16: Girls, 5 years (may use training wheels)

  • Race 17: 4 years (may use training wheels, must be age 4 by July 4)

  • Race 18: 4 years (tricycle only, must be age 4 by July 4)

  • Race 19: Boys & Girls, 13+ years

• 8:30 a.m.: Silver Dollar Band assembles in front of Borough Hall

Lion's Club Children's Parade

• 8:45 a.m.: Lions Club Children's Parade Registration. Borough Hall parking lot. Receive entry number and ribbon. Ten minutes prior to your event's scheduled start, gather with your group.

• 9:45 a.m.: Lions Club Children's Parade. Award presentations will occur immediately after each category in front of the reviewing stand.

  • 9:45: Pets

  • 9:55: Decorated tricycles and small bicycles

  • 10:05: Decorated bicycles

  • 10:15: Decorated floats and baby carriages

Parade

• 10:00 a.m.: Parade forms in front of Co-op

• 10:30 a.m.: Parade, led by Boy Scout Troop 112 and Swarthmore Police. Other community groups include (but are not limited to): antique cars, Swarthmore British Car Club, Swarthmore Senior Citizen Association, Lions Club, Swarthmore Centennial Foundation, Rotary Club, Recycling Committee and area churches. Route is Park Avenue to Princeton Avenue, where a police car will guide marching groups back to Borough Hall via sidewalks. Color Guard leads cars back to Co-op via Lafayette Avenue and proceeds to reviewing stand. Marshalls: Jane Billings and Ellen Pierce.

Program

• 10:45 a.m.: Emcee: Billy Hodges

  • National Anthem: Silver Dollar Band

  • Pledge of Allegiance: Boy Scout Troop 112

  • Dismissal of Color Guard: Billy Hodges

  • Greeting: Marty Spiegel, Mayor of Swarthmore

  • Swarthmore Recreation Association Volunteer of the Year Award

  • Rotary Club Community Service Award

  • Rotary Club Vocational Service Award

  • Swarthmore Centennial Foundation Scholarship Award

  • Theodore A. Purnell Student of the Year Award

  • Lions Club Citizen of the Year Award

  • "America the Beautiful": Silver Dollar Band

• 10:55 a.m.: Swarthmore Borough Independence Day group portrait

• 11:00 a.m.: Swarthmore Fire Company demonstration

• 12:30 p.m.: SRA Annual Cris Hansen Town Horseshoe Tournament at Little Crum Creek Park: doubles with single elimination