Olde Towne Slidell is going all in on Independence Day, closing off big chunks of downtown on Saturday for a full slate of July 4 festivities. On the schedule: a 2 p.m. golf cart parade, family friendly activities throughout the afternoon and a professional fireworks show set for 9 p.m.
Cousin Street will shut down at 6 a.m., with more closures and parking restrictions following later in the morning. Drivers who park inside the restricted zone could find themselves stuck until the parade wraps up, and residents and visitors should be ready for traffic delays, hard-to-reach parked cars and packed sidewalks through midafternoon.
Street Closures And Parking Rules
Cousin Street, from Carey Street to First Street, will close at 6 a.m. on July 4 and is expected to remain closed until about 6 a.m. on July 5. Additional streets, including First Street, Second Street, Carey Street, Erlanger Avenue, Bouscaren Avenue and Robert Street, will start closing at 10 a.m. to stage the parade, and Special Event No Parking signs will be posted.
Once the bollards are in place, vehicles inside the designated no parking zone will not be able to exit until the parade ends and barriers are removed, according to the City of Slidell.
Events And The Day's Lineup
The Slidell Antique Association is hosting its Red, White & Scoops: Ice Cream Social on the Geaux from noon to 4 p.m. under Antique Umbrella Alley, with $5 wristbands covering the cool treats.
The Olde Towne 4th of July Celebration kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with live music from Suns of Uh Beech and Paperchase, a hot dog eating contest and a kid's watermelon eating contest, all detailed on the City of Slidell Facebook. A fireworks extravaganza will cap off the night.
Parade Grand Marshal And Family Activities
The Celebrate America 250 golf cart parade is set to roll at 2 p.m., led by Grand Marshal Baldo Albrecht, a 96 year old World War II and Korean War veteran and longtime community leader. “There’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day than Olde Towne Slidell,” Mayor Randy Fandal said, per the City of Slidell.
For questions about the parade or street closures, residents can contact the city's Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375.
Safety, Rules And Tips
The city's professional fireworks display is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m., according to Visit The Northshore. Personal fireworks are prohibited inside Slidell city limits, and offenders could face fines or criminal penalties, according to WDSU.
Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes and avoid parking inside the restricted area after 10 a.m. if they do not want to be locked in once the bollards and barriers are set.
