Hats Off to America” is the theme of the South County 4th of July Parade in Town Center. The 4th of July parade will begin at 9 am with the National Anthem, sung by Alaina Valentine, winner of the best vocal competition at The Woodlands Teen Talent Show. Valentine will perform at Market Street. The parade route will begin at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, to Grogan’s Mill Road, proceed to the Lake Robbins Drive entrance to Market Street, and then exit Market Street through Lake Woodlands Drive.

Pre-parade entertainment includes fire jugglers, costume characters, magicians and more. Parade highlights include patriotic floats, a marching band competition, dignitaries, beauty queens, Color Guard and The Woodlands High School Varsity Baseball team Class 5A State Champions.

The Grand Marshall for the event is Len Cannon, a reporter and anchor for KHOU-TV Channel 11. Announcers are Nick Wolda, vice president of marketing and public affairs for Town Center Improvement District and entertainer Ramon Torres.

The 2006 parade judges are Ray Biggerstaff, publisher of The Villager; Harold Dull, general manager of Market Street; Peter Lampros, 25th Anniversary Hometown Hero and owner of Lampros Gallery; Julie Martineau, 25th Anniversary Hometown Hero and president of the Montgomery County United Way; Todd Nixon, owner and operator of TheWoodlandsRadio.com; John Powers, assistant general manager of Community Services, Community Associations of The Woodlands; Dr. Ann Snyder, Hometown Hero and executive director of Interfaith of The Woodlands; Coulson Tough, 25th Anniversary Hometown Hero and former vice president of design and construction, The Woodlands Development Company; and Karen West, vice president and general counsel, The Woodlands Development Company.