The parade route finishes at the intersection of Crowell Road and Lake Street.

Chatham’s Independence Day Parade will once again step off from Shore Road on the morning of Saturday, July 4th but with two important changes this year!

1. The parade start time has been moved up to 9:00 a.m.

2. There will be no parking allowed within the parade route on either side of Main Street.

The parking ban will go into effect at 2:00 a.m. Any vehicles parked within the parade route will be towed at the owner’s expense. At 2:30 a.m. chairs, etc. can be placed along the parade route in marked streetside parking areas. Anything placed prior to 2:30 a.m. will be removed. The Town is not responsible for anything left on Main Street.

Shore Road closes at 7:00 a.m. with access for parade participants and local traffic only. Downtown road closures (Main Street from rotary to Shore Road and side roads) will begin at 7:30 a.m. At 8:00 a.m. Main Street (downtown) closes from Crowell Road/Queen Anne Road intersection.

An accessible viewing area will be located at the Department of Public Works for those with mobility issues. Registration is required by June 26th as space may be limited. Please call 508-945-1886 to register. Bring your own chair!

As a special offering for the nation’s 250th, Chatham TV will be live streaming the event from the east end of Main Street at the Eldredge Garage Parking lot. Hop online to www.youtube.com/@chathammagovtv and enjoy!

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.
– No Parking – Tow zone – Main St from the Rotary Seaview St.
– 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 7:30 AM Main St. (downtown) from the Rotary to Shore Rd. will be closed to vehicle traffic.

7/4/23 8:00 AM Main St. from the Rotary to Crowell Rd. closes to all traffic
7/4/23 9:00 AM Parade starts

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 08:00.

Parade starts at 9:00am!