Independents Day
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a Lawnchair Lady.
That might be a slight exaggeration, with all due respect to Ray Liotta in Goodfellas, but I remember the first time I saw the Lawnchair Ladies in the Northside 4th of July Parade, I was desperate to join.
It would be a years before I achieved that dream, though.
The Lawnchair Ladies are a perennial highlight of a parade full of oddball highlights. Their illustrious company includes the Men’s Drill Team (literally men marching with drills, lawn mowers, and other tools), Danceteria (a street-enveloping dance party), and the magical mayhem from Chicken Lays An Egg (IYKYK). In the Northside parade, quirky floats created by neighbors walk with the same import as politicians seeking votes, maybe more. Marching bands are followed by drag queens, which has been going on for years, well before that become commonplace in Cincinnati.
Though the parade traces its roots to 1854, the current version began in 1970, with support from the business association and the community council. The mix of entries in the parade reflects the eclectic nature of a neighborhood known for its indie spirit – home to bars, breweries, and the best record store in the city.
Northside Parade and Rock ‘n’ Roll Carnival
July 2–4, Hoffner Park
July 2 and 3, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
July 4, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
FREE three-day event with 27 live bands, food and retail vendors, and beers from MadTree, 50 West, and Urban Artifact.
July 4, 12 p.m.
The parade travels south on Hamilton Avenue between Rockford Place and Blue Rock, ending at Hoffner Park.
Find details at northsiderocks.com.
If you live in Northside long enough, though, someone is going to ask you to be a Lawnchair Lady. I’d like to say I was tapped like in some secret society, chair webbing and a white rose left at my door.
I got an email.
Which, if I’m being honest was great, because it made it much easier to play it cool. Because I was thrilled!
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Lawnchair Ladies. Though the ranks have swelled and contracted over the years, the Ladies always have a mix of veteran and newbie marchers.
The Lawnchair Ladies began in 1997, founded by Lynn Milosevich as a fun and funny way to be part of the iconic parade. The Ladies now march in her honor, as well as that of Cheryl Wallace, who passed away in the brigade’s early days. The fierce independence and weirdo ethos are a fitting tribute to those strong women.
Along with the chairs – the classic, aluminum version ALWAYS – the Ladies have an annual theme. The theme is carried out through costumes, chair decor, and sometimes even chants. Over the years, I have dressed as a flower, a prom queen, Queen Elizabeth, a tribute to “American Womanhood,” and an old-timey bathing beauty. Spoiler alert: This year we’ll be in silver for the big anniversary.
Of course, being a Lawn Chair Lady requires practice. You’ll find us on June evenings rehearsing individual routines, including intricate dance moves, chair-centric drills, enthusiastic chants, and kick lines. The most difficult decision each year is which routing to do in front of the judges.
Yes, there are parade judges.
But being a Lawnchair Lady isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about celebrating that inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which you may be surprised to learn, sometimes involves lawnchairs.
Through it all – excessive heat, occasional rain, a pandemic –being a Lawnchair Lady ultimately means always having a place to sit and someone to sit with you.
–Tricia Suit