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The countdown is on!  

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

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 100^th anniversary of the passage of our Constitution’s 19^th 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.

The parade steps off at 09:30, starting at the corner f Shore Road and Main Street.

So come early to make sure you get a good seat…..

Due to the number of people who still want to be in the parade this year we have extended the deadline for applications until June 17th.

Thank you for your nominations.

These nominations are now under consideration and there will be an announcement in the coming weeks with the name of the person selected.

You can complete your parade entry submission online here at http://chathamparade.com/chatham-july-4th-parade-entry-submission/. If your submission is done correctly web site will display a confirmation message and you will get an email from chathamparade@gmail.com.

NOTE: SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 3RD 2016!!!!

Rules for Participation – These rules are for the safety of everyone. Not following these rules could jeopardize your participation in the parade and future parades, with the decision of the Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee being final.

• No float apparatus or act can exceed 14 feet height from street level and width must not exceed 8 feet.
• All floats and displays must be free from images reflecting cruelty, denigration or abuse to persons or groups, because of race, creed, gender or economic status.
• Emergency vehicles must be given right of way at all times.
• Entrants must abide by all laws of the land.
• Participants must remain grouped within parade boundaries or as directed by Police or Parade Monitors. If the parade stops, participant groups must remain together. Unauthorized stops along the parade route are not permitted. It is essential to keep pace throughout the parade for the best experience for the spectators and the other entrants.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited while in line before start of parade and during parade.

Throwing anything to the crowd from floats, trucks and cars, including candy is strictly prohibited. This creates a potential dangerous situation with implication of safety and injury.