Brattleboro July 4 Parade Signups Due June 22

The ?By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth? citizens committee has set June 22 as the deadline for participants to sign up for the town?s 39th annual Independence Day parade.

The volunteer group, working with the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, is inviting floats, musicians and marching units that adhere to a set of safety rules and appeal to spectators of all ages and backgrounds.

The July 4 march along Canal and Main streets to the town Common will feature not only its usual bands and community units but also several recreations of scenes from the 1912 Brattleboro Pageant, which dramatized the community?s history and hopes a century ago before a crowd of thousands at Connecticut River?s now flooded Island Park.

The 10 a.m. parade will be followed by an afternoon and evening of free public festivities at Living Memorial Park, with concerts by the Brattlyn Brothers and Peter Miles Band leading up to a 9:30 p.m. fireworks finale.

The event is funded entirely by community contributors, including fireworks sponsor Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, parade sponsors C&S Wholesale Grocers and G.S. Precision and major supporters the Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Holstein Association USA, New Chapter, The Richards Group and WTSA Radio.

Any Brattleboro individual, business or organization may participate if they apply in advance and agree to follow all our rules. Outside groups may march with prior approval of the committee.

To sign up, simply read the following and, at the end, email the requested information to brattleborogoesfourth@gmail.com by JUNE 22.

IMPORTANT: By joining the parade, you and everyone in your unit agree to adhere to all our rules. Organizers reserve the right to reject or remove anyone incompliant with the march?s standards or spirit. (Last year local police fined one parade offender nearly $400 and 5 driver?s license points for failing to obey safety orders, while one young spectator required ambulance and hospital treatment after receiving injuries while running for candy thrown inappropriately by marchers.)

PARADE RULES

The parade is a public, family-friendly event. Declare your independence in a manner appropriate for spectators of all ages and backgrounds.

All entries must be capable of navigating the route safely and no more than 12 feet in height so not to snap overhead wires.

All drivers must have valid licenses and vehicles have proof of liability insurance.

Participants shouldn?t stop to perform but instead maintain a steady forward pace so spectators don?t face large gaps. Likewise, marchers shouldn?t park at the Common but instead exit onto Chapin Street or Route 30 or continue to the American Legion lots on Linden Street.

Participants must walk street-side to distribute candy, flags, balloons or other family-friendly items. Our liability insurance policy prohibits throwing anything from moving vehicles, as someone may be hit or encouraged to get too close to turning wheels.

All bicyclists/skateboarders/unicyclists/other riders of self-propelled devices must wear helmets and wheel only on streets approved in our local parade permit.

Because of an unusually high number of entries expected to participate and concerns expressed by local environmental and energy-conservation groups, we request that, unless special permission is sought and granted, all units (including fire/police/rescue squads) limit themselves to one vehicle.

ABSOLUTELY NO UNOFFICIAL SIRENS / FLASHING LIGHTS / SMOKE / FLAMES / SPECIAL EFFECTS OR CONDUCT THAT COULD CAUSE A SPECTATOR AND/OR SAFETY OFFICIAL TO BELIEVE THERE?S AN EMERGENCY.

All participants are urged to protect themselves by bringing sunscreen, shade hats and water.

In the hopefully unlikely event that police/fire/rescue units must respond to an emergency, all marchers/vehicles should MOVE RIGHT so to clear the left lane for authorities.

Again, by signing up, you?re agreeing to the statement: ?I?ve read the rules and agree that everyone in my unit will adhere to all. I also understand that the volunteer ?By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth? citizens committee assumes no liability for any damages or injuries that participants may sustain before, during or after the public event and, therefore, our group holds the committee harmless from any legal action.?

--

EMAIL THE FOLLOWING TO brattleborogoesfourth@gmail.com:

Name of participating individual/group:

Float/marching unit/other? (please describe)

Will your entry include music?

Contact person?s name:

Email address:

Telephone number:

m i a clint eastwood mia super bowl tom coughlin wes welker eli manning eli manning