Chatham Fourth of July Parade route

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!
Chatham Fourth of July News

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!  

Chatham Fourth of July News

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.

Chatham Fourth of July News

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
Chatham Fourth of July News

Brooke Linell returning to start Annual Chatham Independence Parade

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.

Brooke Linell, at center, will be singing the National Anthem for the 2018 parade. Photo from CapeCod.com taken by Sue Campbell Linnell

 

Chatham Fourth of July News

2018 Parade Theme- “Hooked on Chatham!”

The countdown is on! The Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce the theme for the 2018 Independence Day Parade – Hooked on Chatham!  

 

As is the custom, the Committee solicited theme ideas from the public and this year’s theme was suggested by Suzanne Schneeberger, a  regular visitor to Chatham who lives in Connecticut and is looking forward to the parade. The theme represents the idea that many people who live in or visit Chatham become “hooked” on many aspects of life here, and not just the fishing, but the boating, shopping, and dining; its beauty, history, beaches, and any reason that you are “hooked” on Chatham! “Let’s face it, we are all hooked on Chatham!” is how Schneeberger put it.

Parade participants will use the theme for inspiration to design their entries and be creative with why they are “hooked on Chatham.” Thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets of downtown Chatham for this year’s Independence Day Parade on Wednesday, the Fourth of July. “We announce the theme this early so prospective entrants can start designing their entries. There are a lot of creative people in this town and it’s amazing what they come up with each year,” Chairman Bohannon said. 

Prize categories for float entries will be announced by the end of February and the entry form will be available in early March. You will be able to find the online form and downloadable form on this website starting in March. 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. 

The Chatham Independence Day Committee is looking for additional volunteers to get involved with planning and managing the parade activities. Interested people should contact the committee at Chathamparade@gmail.com.

Chatham Fourth of July News

Award Winners 2017 Independence Day Parade

Award Categories 2017 Winner Float #
OVERALL BEST in Parade Bog Lane Farm #91
OVERALL 2nd Place Phillips Farm Family #53
OVERALL 3rd Place Chatham Pottery #24
     
Best Youth Float Ken Owens Memorial Soccer Jamboree #94
Most Patriotic Float John Cassaboon #32
Best Small Float Fitzgerald Family #56
Best Large Float Cape Cod Beach Chair #4
Best Civic Float Friends of Monomoy #95
Funniest Float Return of the Bridge Street Buccaneers #1
Best Family Float Magner Family #80