Preparations for this year’s Fourth of July parade, which begins Monday at 10 a.m. at the corner of Taylor Street and 16th Street, are in full swing. Yet the exact number of floats, walking groups and marching band that will participate in the parade remains unknown.

“The number of entries is really unknown,” said Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bonnie Pfrogner, explaining that while registration for the parade is encouraged, it is not required, since there is no entry fee.

Those who want to participate in the parade with a wheeled vehicle will need to be at the parking lot of Southern Crescent Technical College no later than 9:15 a.m. on Monday. Walking units meet at the alley near Food Depot, as the parade travels along Taylor Street and ends at the corner of 5th Street.

The parade, which will be presided by Grand Marshals DJ and Kim Brewer, will take place regardless of weather.

“We will go with it Monday morning. If it doesn’t go that day, it just isn’t right,” said ret. Lt. Col. Allan Imes, a member of the chamber’s Military Affairs Committee (MAC), which is organizing the parade.

Imes asked members of the community to come out to the parade and show their patriotism. “I would hope that (people) would want to be a part of celebrating the birth of the United States of America,” he said.

Pfrogner agreed.

“This is Independence Day. This is a great day in the life of our country,” she said. “What better way to celebrate the true meaning of it?”