I have lived in the small town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. my whole life. Anyone who knows anything about Chelmsford should know that we know how to celebrate the Fourth of July.
This year was no different.
It was the town's 49th annual Fourth of July Parade. This date in Chelmsford is a huge event. It actually starts just one week after the last year’s festivities ended. The parade committee gets together to start planning for the upcoming year.
“Fun fact” — the parade is completely funded by donations and fundraising. They spend a whole year of planning!
All the real fun begins before the fourth. It’s like a competition to predict when the first chairs will pop up along the parade route. Usually, it’s between seven to 10 days before the parade even starts!
While the town urges people to wait until at least July 2, allowing the sidewalks to be free and clear for people to pass, some always try to sneak them out early to ensure the best possible viewing spot. It’s funny to listen to people around town as the Fourth approaches because everyone talks about the ridiculousness of the chairs going out way too early. Well, I actually wouldn’t know. We never had to put chairs out. Lucky me, I live right on the parade route. We don’t have to worry about finding a spot or getting our chairs stolen. My dad just told me that a historic home down the street just recently was sold, and one of its biggest selling points was that it was “along Chelmsford’s parade route.” I guess that means my house is prime real estate.
After the chairs go out, the next festivity is the Country Fair, which is the official name for all the booths that get set up on the town common on the third of July. The booths and activities are run by the Chelmsford Lions Club and include face painting, fried dough, baton twirlers, dance groups, a kiddie train, a dunk tank and so much more. When I was little, they even had a hot air balloon ride!
But one of my favorite memories is seeing my dad drive up to me and a bunch of my friends on an electric cooler on wheels. (Looked like a little scooter). He drove it to the center of town from our house. Yes! You read that right, an electric cooler, though I’m sure if you asked him; he would deny it. If you asked my mom about the third of July, she would tell you that each year when I was little I would have to go just to make one of those sand bottles, the one where you layer different colored sand in the funky shaped plastic jars. When I was younger, I actually got to perform on the common. I was one of the baton twirlers and dancers. But by far, I think if you ask anyone the best thing about the July 3, is that it brings everyone together.
Me and my friend Jacky have been going to the common on July 3 since we were really little.
Now that we are older, it is a great way to reconnect with our friends from high school.
Then finally, the day we’ve all been waiting for! The day of the parade is pretty hectic. The road closes at 9 a.m. The streets are lined with people. Decked out in red, white and blue, they cheer and scream and clap as the first runners of the John Carson Fourth of July Road Race run by. There is an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 runners who speed along the two-mile route.
Following the runners, and kicking off the parade, is the Police Honor Guard. Then you have all the bands and floats and antique cars and fire trucks. Remember when I said I twirled baton? Not only did I do it on the third of July, but I also twirled and marched in the actual parade. It felt like such an honor to get to be a part of something of such magnitude. Something that creates so much pride and joy for so many people. Candy gets thrown to the kids and they collect it like it's Halloween. The town tried, unsuccessfully, to get rid of all the candy as it melts in the hot sun and makes a sticky mess; but it just keeps coming! Somehow, there always ends up being a “water war” between the Boy Scouts and unsuspecting onlookers using water guns on the floats versus hoses from the houses. Not that anyone really minds, seeing as some years it's about 90 degrees!
When I went away to my first summer dance intensive in Pennsylvania. I think I almost cried when I realized that I could not take part in this great tradition. My Fourth of July was spent far away, but my heart remained in the great town of Chelmsford. Now that I am in college, coming back for the summer, I look forward to all the festivities. The best part about this year was that my dad and I will actually got to be in the parade!
I appreciate how much the parade does for our community. It a parade that reminds everyone what it feels like to be a kid again. It is well-loved tradition. Next year will be the 50th annual parade, and I bet it will be even bigger and better than ever!
