No candy throwing at Carmel's Fourth of July parade

CARMEL, Ind. (AP) - Throwing candy to bystanders during this year's Fourth of July parade has been banned in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel because of safety issues.

The parade's organizing committee says in a news release that it made the decision because of safety concerns for children who tend to run into the street to collect the candy. The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/28IpvUd) that in recent years parade marshals have had an increase in close calls when children ran in front of moving vehicles to get candy.

Organizers said they made the decision after talking with safety officials and the festival's insurance providers.

CarmelFest public relations director Cindy Roberts-Greiner says organizers know people will be disappointed, but "the most important part of any public gathering is a safe environment."

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com