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A Virtual Alternative to Chatham’s 2020 Independence Day Parade!

COVID-19 has disrupted many aspects of our daily life and forced the cancellation of cherished annual events, including Chatham’s July 4th Parade. Since the “traditional” parade brings joy and excitement every year to thousands of residents and visitors, the Parade Committee would like to host a “virtual” parade in its place!  In order to accomplish this, we need your help!!

Individuals, families, local businesses and organizations, previous float registrants, band participants (anyone!) are asked to submit fun pictures or short videos (up to 30 seconds) incorporating one of the following:

  • This year’s selected parade theme: “Chatham Celebrates Women – In Honor of the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote”
  • Honoring First Responders and Health Care Workers who have been putting their lives on their line during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Honoring teachers who have been working harder than ever to keep students learning and engaged
  • Overall Patriotism

Dress up in costumes, make signs, dance, play music, and/or happily shout your delight for participating in this year’s (virtual) July 4th Parade!!

Submission is easy – send your photos or videos to chathamparade@gmail.com by June 25.

Chatham’s local TV Channel 18 will broadcast it!

2020 July 4th Parade Theme

The countdown is on!  

The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce the theme for 2020:

“Chatham Celebrates Women –
In Honor of the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote”

The idea for this year’s theme was submitted by Juliet Bernstein, a legendary Chatham citizen who has made significant contributions to the community through her activism, volunteerism, and leadership. With a backdrop of this year’s 100th anniversary of the passage of our Constitution’s 19th Amendment guaranteeing and protecting women’s right to vote, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women, both in Chatham and throughout our country. 

Parade participants will use the theme for inspiration to design their entries. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets of downtown Chatham for this year’s Independence Day Parade on Saturday, the Fourth of July.

Prize categories for float entries will be announced by the end of February and the entry form will be available in early March. At that time you can go to the committee’s webpage, chathamparade.com, to register online or download the form. Nominations for Parade Grand Marshal will be accepted during the month of May and the decision will be announced in June.

It’s hard to believe that the parade is a little over five months away. By announcing the theme now, we hope prospective entrants will have plenty of time to design their entries. We look forward to yet another year of clever, imaginative, and all-around fun floats.

AWARD WINNERS FOR THE 2019 INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

OverallPhillips Farm Family
2nd PlacePine Acres Realty/Chatham Concierge
3rd PlaceOyster River Boatyard
Best Youth Entry- Sam & Kevin Foley
Best Patriotic EntryPhillips Farm Family
Best Small EntryMonomoy Yacht Club
Best Large EntryKathleen Kelly and Jenn Gilmartin
Best Civic EntrySustainable Practices
Best Funny EntryChatham Drama Guild 
Best Family EntryMagner Family 

Parade Traffic Advisory & Parking Restrictions

The following advisory and information on parking restrictions has been posted by the Chatham Police Department.

Starting at 02:30 a.m. on July 4, “NO PARKING” restrictions will go into effect. The area affected is the Main Street Downtown Business District from the Rotary/Old Harbor Road to the intersection Main Street and Shore Road. There will be NO PARKING-TOW AWAY ZONE restrictions on the Town Hall side of Main Street. No chairs will be allowed on Main Street until AFTER 02:30 a.m.

Beginning at 06:30 a.m. there will be a one-way (southbound) traffic pattern on Shore Road, from Old Harbor Road to Main Street. This will remain in effect until the end of the parade proceeds onto Main Street.
The downtown business area will be closed to ALL motor vehicle traffic at 08:30 a.m.

The intersection of Route 28, Main Street and Crowell Road will be closed at 09:00 a.m., and ALL inbound traffic will be detoured onto Old Queen Anne Road, with the exception of vehicles that need to access the Stage Harbor/Oyster Pond/Cedar Street area, which
will be detoured on to Queen Anne Road.

“NO PARKING” signs, traffic cones and barricades will be placed at various locations along the parade route and surrounding streets. Uniformed Police Officers will be posted to assist with traffic. Please follow Officer’s directions on exiting town after the parade. Officers may have alternate routes that will shorten your time in traffic as
opposed to directions suggested by your GPS systems.

It has been confirmed that the parade route  will again be the extended route.

Please note that Barcliff Ave will be closed at 7am. Access to Shore Road is via Main Street or Route 28.

The route map, parking and rest room locations can be found Here

Shore Road will be closed at 06:30 except for parade floats. Entry will only be possible from the traffic lights.

Barcliff Road will be closed for traffic towards Shore Road

Main Street to Shore Road will close at approximately 08:30.

Parade starts at 9:30am!

Announcing the Grand Marshal, Judges, Master of Ceremonies, and National Anthem Singer for the 2019 Parade!

We are proud to announce some of the esteemed participants in the 
2019 Chatham July 4th Parade:

GRAND MARSHAL

The Grand Marshal for the 2019 parade will be Ivan Bassett, a lifelong resident of Chatham and beloved fixture in the community.  As a signalman in World War II, Mr. Bassett served in every major battle in the Pacific, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and won 10 battle stars.  After the war, he returned to Chatham, married and raised a family, and worked for the local fire department and school system. We can’t think of a more perfect individual to represent this year’s parade theme, “Chatham Honors You! Service Members Past, Present, Future.”  

JUDGES

The Judges for the 2019 parade will be:

  • Danielle Jeanloz, Executive Director of the Atwood House and Museum
  • Patricia Vreeland, former Chatham High School nurse and volunteer extraordinaire
  • Perry Comeau, Valedictorian of Monomoy Regional High School Class of 2019

MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND SINGER


Sarah Colvin, local Cape Cod broadcast journalist, will return as Master of Ceremonies, and after a wonderful performance last year, Brooke Linnell, Nauset Regional High School Class of 2017, will sing our National Anthem!  

2019 Parade theme: “Chatham Honors You! Service Members Past, Present, Future”

The countdown is on!  The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce the theme for 2019:

“Chatham Honors You! Service Members Past, Present, Future”

The idea was submitted by Sam Foley, 9, in honor of his grandfathers who both live in Chatham and served in the military. Sam lives in England but spends his summer vacations here. With a backdrop of this year’s 75th anniversary of D-Day, which changed the course of WWII, we honor all men and women who have served our country, not just the veterans of WWII but of all wars and those who have served during peacetime. We also honor Chatham’s contributions – the Marconi Center, Naval Base formerly on Eastward Point, Coast Guard at Chatham Light – as well as the many soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women who have and will protect us.

Parade participants will use the theme for inspiration to design their entries to honor our veterans. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets of downtown Chatham for this year’s Independence Day Parade on Thursday, the Fourth of July.

It’s hard to believe that the parade is a little over five months away. By announcing the theme now, we hope prospective entrants will have plenty of time to design their entries.

Prize categories for float entries will be announced by the end of February and the entry form will be available in early March. Go to the committee’s webpage, chathamparade.com, to download the form. Forms will also be emailed to previous entrants in hopes of them joining us again.

Nominations for Parade Grand Marshal will be accepted during the month of May and the decision will be announced in June.

Aside from Veteran’s Day, we can’t think of a finer day to honor our veterans than on the day our country celebrates our Independence, July 4th. We look forward to yet another year of clever, imaginative, and all-around fun floats.

Award Winners for the 2018 Independence Day Parade

Award Categories 2018 Winner Float #
OVERALL BEST in Parade Phillips Farm Family #26
OVERALL 2nd Place Bog Lane Farm #1
OVERALL 3rd Place Friends of Monomoy #57
     
Best Youth Float Monomoy Regional School District #23
Most Patriotic Float Bog Lane Farm #1
Best Small Float Fisherman’s Daughter #53
Best Large Float Kathleen Kelly & Jenn Gilmartin #35
Best Civic Float Wildcare #21
Funniest Float Fitzgerald Family #29
Best Family Float Magner Family #50