06/30/2022
It’s been a long two years off but we are back and bigger than ever with our 75th parade on 7/4/22! The largest 4th of July parade in MA and the 2nd largest in New England kicks off on North Ave. at 5pm with 23 bands and over 2000 total participants from around North America including floats, veterans, costume characters, cars, jugglers, and more!
Rules and Regulations
Everyone should read the Rules and Regulations set forth by the Fourth of July Committee, as well as the Tips and General Information to ensure a safe and happy environment for all.
-DO NOT enter the parade route for any reason and please keep a close watch on your children. Do not allow your children onto the parade route. We have a lot of characters in hot costumes. Its important that they keep moving to complete the route.
-Overnight camping is prohibited.
-Areas along the parade route may not be roped off, taped off or blocked any way with any object.
-Please be respectful of private property along the parade route. Do not place your chairs/blankets on private lawns or driveways.
-We love seeing the chairs out but please put them out after 7/1
-Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
-Fireworks, Silly String, "Poppers", streamers, water guns, and projectiles of any kind are prohibited as they are a danger to participants and spectators alike.
-Bicycles, hover boards, skateboards and in-line skates are prohibited along the parade route during the parade for safety reasons
-Soliciting along the parade route is illegal unless a license has been obtained from the Fourth of July Committee. Authorized parade vendors will be identifiable by a “parade vendor” t-shirt.
-Drones are prohibited by Wakefield Police Department.
Tips & General Information
-Bring cold drinks, hats, and sunscreen.
Shady areas can be the best protection against sun and heat. The library side of Main St will be the shady side as the parade goes by.
-Games and books to occupy your children before the parade begins is a good idea as it can take some time for the parade to reach your location.
-The parade kicks off at 5pm, but it takes about an hour to complete the walk. Therefore, spectators along Main Street or at the end of the route may not start to see the parade until close to 6pm.
-Non-service animals should be left at home, there will be police dogs on the route and they could interfere.
-The parade review stand in front of the Civic Center is not available to the general public and requires a ticket to enter. Chairs in front of the Civic Center will be moved.
-First Aid will be available from emergency medical crews stationed along the parade route as well as at the Common.
-Missing child station will be located around Church and Common Street.
Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the parade!
FAQ
- What is the parade route?: The parade begins at 5:00pm at the Lakeside Office Park on North Ave. It travels down North Ave. turning left on to Church St. then right on to Common St. and straight through to Main St. The parade ends at the Galvin Middle School. The review stand is in front of the Americal Civic Center on Main St.
- How long is the parade?: The entire parade should be around 2 hours. It will most likely take 30-45 minutes to reach the review stand at the end of the route after kicking off at 5pm.
- Where do the parade groups come from? This year we have over 2000 participants coming from across the North America: Quebec, Minnesota, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
- Can I put chairs out early for the parade or fireworks?: Chairs and space savers usually start appearing a day or two before the parade starts along the route. The upper and lower common are used for events in the morning so nothing should be put out early that impedes them.
- Where can I park for the day? Parking is available on side streets off the parade route throughout the day. Many roads are closed due to the events and no parking signs will be placed around town. Various surrounding streets will be closed beginning at 3:30 p.m. North Ave will be closing at 4pm. The North Ave exit of 128 will be closed by state police at 4:30pm and you will need to use the next exit to enter Wakefield. If you are parking on residential streets, please be sure to avoid blocking driveways and watch for road closed signs. Police will ticket and tow.
- How are the events funded? The parade is entirely staffed by volunteers and entirely funded by donations. This year the parade is expected to cost over $125,000 and planning and saving for this parade started on 7/4/2019.
If you would like to support the parade with a tax deductible donation, you can send a check made out to the WIDC to PO Box 1746 Wakefield, MA 01880, donate online on www.julyparade.org, or put some money in our buckets as we pass by on the 4th
Please do not put chairs in the red location in front of the civic center. WCAT will be filming there are we will have our review stand set up.-
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