We are now accepting suggestions for the 2020 Independence Day Parade.
Have an idea that you would like to be considered? Then head over to our theme submissions page here and the Committee will review your submission.
Deadline for submissions is December 15th 2019 and the theme will be announced in January 2020.
| Overall | Phillips Farm Family |
| 2nd Place | Pine Acres Realty/Chatham Concierge |
| 3rd Place | Oyster River Boatyard |
| Best Youth Entry- | Sam & Kevin Foley |
| Best Patriotic Entry | Phillips Farm Family |
| Best Small Entry | Monomoy Yacht Club |
| Best Large Entry | Kathleen Kelly and Jenn Gilmartin |
| Best Civic Entry | Sustainable Practices |
| Best Funny Entry | Chatham Drama Guild |
| Best Family Entry | Magner Family |
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.
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.
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:
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!
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
2019 Theme
“Chatham Honors You!
Service Members Past, Present, Future”
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR ENTRANTS – PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY
The Chatham Police Department has issued rules to ensure the safety of all parade entrants and spectators. Not following these rules could jeopardize your participation this year and in future parades.
Parade Judging
Parade Award Categories
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 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 |
Born and raised in Chatham, Brooke Linell was the talented singer who started the parade last year. She graduated last year from Nauset Regional High School. She has been pursuing her studies at the University of New Hampshire this past year.
