Independence Day will be a little less festive in King’s Grant this year. Due to gathering restrictions, we cannot hold our annual parade and the picnic that follows. The parade requires a permit from the City of Virginia Beach. The permit application, with the accompanying fee, was due to the city’s Special Events Office 30 days prior. Because of gathering limits in effect at that time and continuing today, we are not going to be approved for an event on city streets. Sadly, we have decided to cancel both the parade and the picnic. Even though the picnic (in our park) is not subject to city permitting, we felt it was prudent to not promote a large assembly in the park when such things are being discouraged in the city. The parade is also what brings people to the park for our picnic. As an alternative, the KGCL Board of Directors is contemplating a picnic event at Witt Park on Labor Day (September 7th) so we can gather for some fun, hot dogs, etc. Hopefully, we will have moved past the current restrictions. We will see how things develop during the summer. On the bright side, the reigning bubblegum blowing and watermelon seed spitting champions may wear their crowns awhile longer.