The July 4th Parade Committee welcomes nominations for Grand Marshal of the 2024 Chatham Independence Day Parade. The Grand Marshal is designated to take the lead in the processional and in the hosting of festivities. As the Grand Marshal is a position of special honor, the nominee must be a year round or summer resident of Chatham and one who has made significant contributions to our community.
Category Archives: Chatham Fourth of July News
2024 July 4th Parade Theme
The countdown is on!
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.
Now accepting theme suggestions for the 2024 Independence Day Parade
The Parade Committee is now accepting suggestions for the 2024 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 February 29th, 2024.
Thank you!!!
2023 Parade Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Chatham Independence Day Parade! Thank you to everyone who participated for making this year’s parade spectacular!
2023 Parade Awards | |
Category | Winner |
1st Overall | Phillips Farm Family |
2nd Overall | Mahi Gold |
3rd Overall | Fitzgerald Family |
Best Family Entry | Magner Family |
Most Patriotic Entry | Coastal Cape Youth Baseball |
Funniest Entry | Chatham Orpheum |
Best Civic Entry | Chatham Historical Society |
Best Business Entry | Chatham Bars Inn |
Best Youth Entry | Ken Owens Memorial Soccer Jamboree |
Parade Day Parking Restrictions and Road Closures
Chatham Independence Day Parade
Pre-Event Timeline from the Chatham Police Department
7/4/23 2:30 AM Parking restrictions go into effect.
– No Parking – Tow zone – Main St from the Rotary to Shore Rd. on the south side
– No Parking – Tow zone – Main St from the Rotary Seaview St. on the north side
– No Parking – Tow zone – Main St. from Tale of the Cod to Shore Rd.
– No Parking – Tow zone – Crowell Rd to Tip Cart
– No Parking – Tow zone – Hitching Post, Tip Cart, Depot Rd.
– After 2:30 am, chairs etc. can be placed on Main St. in the downtown area in the marked streetside parking areas. Anything placed prior to 2:30 am will be removed. The Town is not responsible for anything left on Main St.
7/4/23 7:00 AM Shore Rd. closed, only parade and local traffic allowed.
– Shore Rd. will be made one-way going south at 7:00 AM to allow for parade participants to line up and prepare. Officers will be in place to assist.
7/4/23 8:00 AM Main St. (downtown) from the Rotary to Shore Rd. will be closed to vehicle traffic.
7/4/23 9:00 AM Main St. from the Rotary to Crowell Rd. closes to all traffic
7/4/23 9:30 AM Parade starts
Announcing the 2023 Grand Marshal, Judges, and National Anthem Singer
We are proud to announce some of the esteemed participants in the 2023 Chatham July 4th Parade:
GRAND MARSHAL
The Grand Marshal for the 2023 parade will be John Whelan.
This year’s Grand Marshal truly represents “Historic Chatham”.
He has been a resident of Chatham for over 70 years and is
described as one of the “keepers of the flame” as he is always
willing to recount stories of Chatham both orally and through his
columns in the Cape Cod Chronicle. John is the author of the
book “I am Chatham” which is about the people who have
contributed to the rich history of Chatham. He has also served on
Chatham’s Finance Committee.
John will be driven in his own Audi Convertible by his brother.
JUDGES
The Judges for the 2023 parade will be:
Peter Cocolis – Peter has been a member of the Planning
Board in Chatham serving as its Chair for many years.
Peter also served on the Select Board for four years,
serving as its chair. He has been the town’s
representative to the Cape Light Compact. He has also
been an active contributor to First Night and the Holy
Redeemer Church.
Lorraine Cocolis – Lorraine has been a chair of the Chatham
Women’s Club. Lorraine has also served on the Parish
Council at the Holy Redeemer Church and has been an
active contributor to First Night.
We felt it was very important to honor the Cocolises
contributions to our town before they head out to
Virginia
By now the tradition of having the Chatham High School and now
Monomoy High School Valedictorian serve as a judge is well
established.
Christie Beckley – This year’s valedictorian is Christie
Beckley. Christie is a resident of Chatham. She will
attend Harvard in the follow to study Biology!
NATIONAL ANTHEM SINGER
This year’s National Anthem will be sung by Haley Labdon. Haley
has performed at Radio City Music Hall before as well as
participating in the chorus at Nauset Regional High School. Haley
will start her senior year at Nauset in the fall.
2023 Parade Order!
The Order for the 2023 Independence Day Parade has been Set!
Use [Ctrl]+[f] to find your name
Chatham Police Department
Chatham Veterans
Chatham Veterans' Auxiliary
USCG Station Chatham
US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Cape Cod Flotilla 11-1
Chatham Fire Department (w/ others)
Chatham Town Flag
Chatham Select Board
Chatham Town Band
Grand Marshal
1 Phillips Farm Family
2 Bob may
3 Thomas Kalil
4 Roger Miller Family
5 Jean Bongiovanni
6 Hoyda Family
7 Kelley family
8 Sandy and Eileen Leith
9 The Mancini Family
10 Rico Salvi, 280 Main Street, Chatham
11 John C. Domos
12 Joseph C. Smith Jr.
13 Andrew J. Kennedy
14 Robert Carleton
15 Joshua Ellis
16 The Fisher Family
17 The Moeder Family
18 Cliff Stalker
19 Andy Hurley
20 Charlie Wallace
21 Elizabeth Michaud
22 Jody Middleton
23 Highland Light Scottish Pipe Band
24 Chatham Historical Society
25 Chatham Athletic Association – Chatham Anglers
26 Wicked wavy swim school
27 Boot Camp Chatham
28 Chatham Garden Club
29 CAPE COD BEACH CHAIR CO
30 Liam Live!
31 Stage Harbor Sailing School
32 RJ’s Beauty
33 DY Marching Band
34 The Beach Fire Shop
35 First Night Chatham
36 FitzGerald Family
37 Summer Sitters
38 Chatham Orpheum Theater
39 Coastal Cape Youth Baseball
40 Rotary Club of Chatham
41 Southern Tide
42 Myoli
43 Yarmouth Minute Men
44 South Chatham Village Association
45 Outermost Harbor Marine
46 Kelleher Family
47 The Magner Family
48 Dogs In The Office
49 MONOMOY YACHT CLUB
50 7 Sisters Florals
51 The Caep
52 Sudbury Bees
53 Squire Mobile
54 The Chatham Squire
55 Chatham Yacht Club
56 Chatham Bars Inn
57 Ken Owens Memorial Soccer Jamboree
58 ExitMerch
59 Chatham Cheese Shop
60 Witches On the Water, Inc.
61 Cape Cod’r Craft Cocktails
62 The Black Dog
63 Cape Shark
64 CC Tree and Landscaping
65 Cape Smile
66 Chatham Airport
67 Barrows Waste
68 Chatham Democratic Town Comittee
69 Moments Events Decor
70 America’s Boating Club
71 Chatham Hood Bikes
72 Chatham Thread Works
73 MAHI GOLD
That’s All Folks!
2023 July 4th Parade Prize Categories
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 (New this year)