{"id":329891,"date":"2026-07-05T11:49:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T11:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/329891\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T11:49:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T11:49:32","slug":"f-16s-super-soakers-and-a-very-beautiful-cement-truck-key-biscaynes-4th-of-july-parade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/329891\/","title":{"rendered":"F-16s, Super Soakers, and a very beautiful cement truck: Key Biscayne\u2019s 4th of July parade"},"content":{"rendered":"

The multicultural celebration that is Key Biscayne\u2019s Fourth of July parade was extra colorful this year, featuring a record number of additional marchers, dancers, and upgrades to mark America\u2019s 250th birthday.<\/p>\n

At 11 a.m., a pair of F-16s from the Air Force\u2019s 482nd Fighter Wing kicked off the festivities with a precision flyover. Police and firefighters led the marchers, and as the vehicles started rolling, gifts were tossed to outstretched hands along the Crandon Boulevard parade route.<\/p>\n

\"\"F16\u2019s from the Air Force\u2019s 482nd Fighter Wing fly over Crandon Boulevard in Key Biscayne to start the 4th of July Parade (KBI Photo\/Tony Winton)<\/p>\n

There were 75 entries\u2014a new record\u2014according to parade organizer Michele Estevez. \u201cI have tears in my eyes,\u201d she said. \u201cWe did it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Marchers from the Key Biscayne Yacht Club take part in the 4th of July Parade, July 4, 2026 (KBI Photo\/Tony Winton)<\/p>\n

Weathering the Heat<\/p>\n

The summer heat did take its toll, however. Estevez noted that at least four people needed medical attention, including stilt walkers and band members. A a new paramedic station made it easier for volunteers to quickly render aid. Also new this year was a dedicated, designated viewing space for special needs attendees.<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery<\/p>\n

To beat the steamy weather, several Super Soakers fired water into the crowd\u2014oftentimes to the delight of parade-goers begging for a brief blast\u2014as temperatures hovered near 90 degrees and climbed higher. \u201cWe were definitely trying to get soaked,\u201d said a smiling Andrea Lopez.<\/p>\n

\"\"Marchers tosss water from hats and super soakers on the parade route in Key Biscayne, July 4, 2026 (KBI Photo\/Tony Winton)<\/p>\n

Despite the intense heat, several participants went all-out in the costume department. There were at least three gents in colonial garb, including a visitor from Coral Gables who made for a quite passable George Washington. There were also at least two Ladies Liberty, complete with lamps held high.<\/p>\n

\"\"Parade goers are thrilled by a noisemaing cannon during the 4th of July parade in Key Biscayne (KBI Photo\/Tony Winton<\/p>\n

\"\"Performers from the Baltimore (MD) All Stars Marching Unit perform during the Key Biscayne parade, July 4. 2026 (KBI Photo\/Tony Winton)<\/p>\n

Creative Wheels and Big Winners<\/p>\n

In the mechanized department, Key Biscayne\u2019s famous decorated golf carts joined the police and fire engines. Among them was the recently christened John C. Gilbert, a \u201cQuint\u201d fire truck named for the late fire chief and Village manager.<\/p>\n

But the oddest motorized entry had to be a full-sized cement truck from Supermix. As it rolled down Crandon Boulevard with its painted cement drum rotating, it captured the \u201cMost Beautiful\u201d award.<\/p>\n

\"\"A cement truck from Supermix rolls during the Key Biscayne parade, July 4th, 2026. It won \u2018most beautiful.\u2019 (KBI photo\/Tony Winton)<\/p>\n

2026 Parade Award Winners<\/p>\n

Best Golf Cart: Tamares<\/p>\n

Best Homemade Entry: Junkanoos<\/p>\n

Most Original: The Yacht Club<\/p>\n

Most Patriotic: Baltimore Band<\/p>\n

Most Beautiful: Supermix<\/p>\n

The upgrades didn\u2019t stop when the parade ended. At the Rotary Club\u2019s traditional barbecue on the Village Green, succulent brisket served as a smoky upgrade from the usual hamburgers.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Editor-in-Chief<\/p>\n

Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The multicultural celebration that is Key Biscayne\u2019s Fourth of July parade was extra colorful this year, featuring a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":329892,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[136321,73534,135265,589,1454,52652,123,125,124,121983,159,136322,74684],"class_list":["post-329891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-482nd-fighter-wing","tag-4th-of-july","tag-crandon-boulevard","tag-featured","tag-heat","tag-independence-day","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news","tag-michele-estevez","tag-parade","tag-super-soaker","tag-u-s-air-force"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=329891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329891\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/329892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=329891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=329891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=329891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}