2024 July 4th Parade Theme

The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce the theme for 2024:

“Chatham – It’s a Shore Thing!”

The idea for this year’s theme was submitted by Chuck Borkoski.

The committee receive multiple thoughtful entries highlighting the importance of our beloved beaches. Chuck wrote in his suggestion “One of the town’s greatest assets is its shoreline.” We quite agree and we look forward to seeing all of the entries celebrating this special feature of Chatham!

Parade participants will use the theme for inspiration to design their entries. Entries cannot be judged for prizes if they do not incorporate the theme in their entry! 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 are posted online and the entry form will be available in Mid-May. 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 April and the decision will be announced in June.

It’s hard to believe that the parade is a little over three 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.

2024 PARADE PRIZE CATEGORIES

The July 4 th Parade Committee has announced the prize categories for this year’s float entries.


The categories are as follows:

Overall 1st Place

Overall 2nd Place

Overall 3rd Place

Best Family Entry

Best Youth Entry

Most Patriotic Entry

Funniest entry

Best Civic Entry

Best Business Entry

Parade Participant Entries will open on May 15 and the deadline will be June 15. Grand Marshall Nominations will open on May 1 with a deadline of June 1. We cannot wait to see the creative, fun, and beachy entries you dream up!

The Parade Needs Your Help! Become a Parade Marshal!

The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee would like to bring back an old tradition for 2024 – Parade Marshals. Parade Marshals help keep the parade moving in a timely and orderly fashion so that the spectators and participants can enjoy the parade without lengthy gaps between entries. Keeping the parade moving helps keep spectators safe and off the parade route and makes the day more enjoyable for all. Marshals will receive and wear the same colorful shirts and hats worn by Chatham IDPC members and walk alongside the parade entries as they pass through town. The IDPC will also recognize all those who volunteer their time for the job! If you are 16 or older and have an interest in working with us as a Parade Marshal to continue the great history of the Chatham Independence Day Parade, please click on this link. The Chatham IDPC will contact you.