Are you watching a parade on the 4th, and how do get seating?

Question

In my hometown people go all along the parade route and lay out tarps, chairs with rope through them and rugs and rags to save seats. So 4 days before the parade, the parade route looks like garbage day! Why can't people just be spontaneous and go to the parade and choose a site a couple hours before? Does this happen in your home town?

Answer 1

Here in Bristol, Rhode Island(The oldest parade in the country), there's a local ordinance. You are not allowed to lay out ropes, chairs, tarps or otherwise until 5:00 am on the day of the parade. This seems to work well. We live about a mile from the parade route. We start walking about an hour before the parade starts and we are always able to find a spot to set up our chairs. You could bring up this idea to some of your town leaders. It won't help you this year, but might help in the future.