Hurricane, WV | July 4, 2026
Main Street on July 4th
If you've ever been in Hurricane on the Fourth of July, you know we don't do things halfway. This year was no exception as the community celebrated America's 250th anniversary.
This year, instead of just showing up to watch the parade, I decided to grab my camera and see
what stories I could find.
The day actually started with the fire truck pull on Main Street, where I wandered around for a while before making my way downtown for the parade. By three o'clock, the sidewalks were lined with lawn chairs, families had claimed their favorite spots, and Main Street was exactly what you'd expect from a small-town Fourth of July.
By the time the parade started, Main Street had completely changed.
Kids sat on blankets with bags ready for candy. Parents waved from folding chairs. Volunteers hurried from one float to the next while everyone else waited to see what was coming around the corner.
There were marching bands, tractors, classic cars, dancers, veterans, first responders, and enough red, white, and blue to make you smile.
But every time I lifted my camera, I found myself looking just past the parade.
By the end of the afternoon, I had hundreds of photos to sort through. Some were of floats. Some were of fire trucks. Some were of balloons and flags.
But the ones I kept coming back to were the people.
The smile from a passing truck. A dog dressed for the occasion. Kids discovering candy on the pavement like buried treasure. A teenager roller skating through downtown. Friends carrying snakes down Main Street. Familiar faces waving as they rolled by.
Those are the moments that make me glad I brought my camera.
When the parade ended, so did my photography for the day.
The concert and fireworks followed later that evening at Bridge Park, but this time I left the camera in the bag. I didn't even pull out my phone. Sometimes it's nice to simply enjoy the music, watch the fireworks, and be part of the celebration instead of photographing it.
I'm glad I brought my camera that afternoon and I'm even happier I knew when to put it away.
Until the next story,
Lori
