Starting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Koubek and about 74 other parade entries will begin parading down the street as a part of the City of Lansing Fourth of July parade, said Director of Lansing’s Parks and Recreation Department Brett Kaschinske.

“Parades are always great this time of year,” Koubek said, adding Sundance Riding Stables was invited by the Parks and Recreation Department to participate in the parade. “(When) the crowd is going to be excited to be there … it’s always exciting.”

Kaschinske said the parade has been going on for well over 25 years and unless there are dangerous weather conditions the parade will go on, rain or shine. He said the parade will include clowns, musicians, antique cars, characters, such as the Lansing Lugnuts mascot Big Lug, and floats, such as a replica of the historical Lansing building, the Turner-Dodge House.

Kaschinske said that both national and local politicians will be present, including Mayor Virg Bernero. Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s campaign will have a float in the parade he said, though he was unable to confirm if she will be present.

“Everyone’s looking for something to do on the Fourth of July,” kinesiology senior Jane Roda said, adding she probably would attend the parade if she wasn’t going out of town. “If you’re stuck in town, it’s something to look forward to.”

In previous years, 4,000 to 5,000 people attended the parade, Kaschinske said. He said the crowd most likely will be large due to the recent economy and Independence Day’s place in the middle of the week.

Arlyn King, a member of The Habibi Dancers and parade participant, said even though Lansing is Michigan’s capitol, it often has a small town feeling, which events such as this really show.
“Small community events like this are very positive,” King said. “It’s just always fun to make people smile.”

King’s entry in the parade, which she described as being a belly dance, has been in the Fourth of July Lansing parade for about six years now and she is excited to show off the group’s red, white and blue attire.

The event’s family focus is one of the best parts of her entry, and the parade itself, King said.
“I love to see kids with flags on the side of the road,” Kaschinske said, adding another favorite for him is how the parade begins, with military officials and veterans walking first. “It’s still the moment when you realize why we’re doing this.”

The parade starts on Allegan Street near the Hall of Justice, continues onto Capitol Avenue and concludes on Ottawa Street, Kaschinske said.

For Koubek, horseback riding down the street with his family will be just one more way to exemplify what his family, Sundance Riding Stables and the parade are all about.

“Sundance is all about family, keeping things affordable and keeping things fun,” Koubek said. “In my eyes (the Fourth is) kind of a family type of thing … it fits into our beliefs and the things that we hold dear.”