• A selection of food vendors, craft & souvenir vendors, and non-profits will be set up around Rusty Parker Park, including AMURTEL, Rainbow Ice, Kevin’s Poutinerie, Hook and Peel, Dan’s Dough, Kingdom Creamery, Gifts from the Notch, 802 Snow, and so much more.
• There will a variety of beer for sale by the Rotary. The primary beer sponsor is Lawson's Finest Liquids.
• There will not be any outside alcohol allowed into Rusty Parker Park per state regulations.

• Just before the parade begins, the Green Mountain Mile runners take to the streets for this family-friendly fun run.
• The course starts on the access road to the Ice Center, then heads through downtown along Main Street, finishing at the intersection with Stowe St.
• Applicants are encouraged to pre-register for the race on Friday, June 23, from 5-7 pm at Brookside Primary School.
• Race day registration closes at 3:30 pm at the Ice Center.
• Entry fees are: $5 for kids (14 and under), $10 for adults.

• The parade will head North on Main St, starting at the State Complex (South) entrance and finishing at the rail bridge by Dac Rowe Field.
• The central section of Main St from Park Row to Stowe Street gets very busy, so please consider watching from alternate areas to keep everyone nicely spread out.
• Please note that traffic on Main Street will be stopped by 3:30 pm and parking will be blocked off around most of Rusty Parker Memorial Park.
• For information on how to be in the parade, please see below. 

• Fun games include pig races, ring toss, butterfly balloon burst, fish pong, treasure bricks, and more.
• There will also be face painting!

• A suggested $5 donation per attendee will be requested to help fund the day’s events
• Food and beer sales will continue throughout the concert.

• The firework display will be visible from all over town, so find a spot with a clear view of the sky behind the State Complex.
• Parking at the State Complex is FREE of charge. Volunteers will ask for a donation to help cover costs for the day's events.
• Parking for the fireworks is available behind the State Office Complex. 
• If viewing on the grass at the State Office Complex, please stay behind the signs.
• Exit the fireworks via Park Row (at the light) or State Drive. All those exiting out of State Drive will be directed South on Main Street and can get onto I-89 in Middlesex if necessary.

 

DATE: Saturday, June 24, 2023, 4 PM.

THEME: The 2023   Not Quite Independence Day Parade will have the theme of “Peace, Love & the 4^thof July”. There are prizes for best use of theme. Please try to be creative with the use of the theme! 

 

ROUTE: The parade route runs down Main St heading north starting at the South Entrance of the State Office Complex and finishing on North Main St at the rail bridge entrance to Dac Row Field. Once the parade is finished floats can get back to the start point using Union St, Rail Road Street and Park Row, crossing Main St to get back to the State Complex.

 

CHECK-IN: Drive to State Complex at the North Entrance off Park Row. Please arrive by 3:00 pm in order to be ready for check-in and review by 3:30 pm. The Fire Department will direct you were to line up and where to park cars. If you have special requests for parade lineup order contact Sally Dillon wfdflorians@comcast.net or (802) 498-3761. Waterbury Rotary Parade Marshalls shall review all entries for compliance with these rules.

 

 

APPLICATION: No application is necessary, but please email Sally Dillon @ wfdflorians@comcast.net to register and to let us know you plan to be in the parade. QUESTIONS: Please contact Waterbury Rotary Parade Coordinator Phyllis Arsenault-Berry at rottix2@yahoo.com with any questions.

 

REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATION: Parade participants agree to abide by the following Parade Rules and to follow all instructions from police and/or Rotary Parade Marshals on the day of the parade. The Waterbury Rotary Club reserves the right to remove any entry during assembly or participation at any time during the parade for failure to abide by these Parade Rules.

 1. All parade entries must be appropriate for a family audience. An entry may not include image or content that includes nudity, profanity, lewdness, illegal drugs, alcohol, violence, obscenity, hate, racism, or name-calling.

2. Each parade entry shall be under the control of a responsible supervising adult who shall be familiar with and promote compliance with these Rules with entry participants.

3. Participants may not invite or encourage attendees to enter the parade route.   

4. Drivers of motor vehicles must not be impaired and must have a valid driver’s license. All motor vehicles must be fully operable, registered and insured. Unregistered small Go-Carts, Tractors, ect. will be allowed at the sole discretion of Parade Marshalls. All operations during the parade must promote safety for all. No acceleration, sudden stops, or erratic actions. All vehicle operators shall obey directions given by Parade Marshalls if so given.

5. Large floats or vehicles must provide spotters to aid driver visibility and safe operation.

6. Riders are to remain on the float once the parade begins and at all times when the float is in motion. 

7. Parade participants may not throw items to parade attendees. That means NO Candy, NO Ice-Cream, NO Flyers, NO Anything. In promoting safety, we need to stop children running into the parade route and keep family groups together on the street. Participants May Safely Hand out items to attendees.

8. Children must be under adult supervision and seated at all times. 

9. Entries with animals shall have a responsible clean up delegate following the entry.

10. Parade groups shall strive to maintain at least 20’ space from the group in front.

11. Participants must keep the pace and are not permitted to make physical stops along the Parade Route. Any performances along the route must be moving or marching. 

12. The parade will run rain or shine! Participants should be prepared with sunscreen, hats, and plenty of water. 

13. Safety for all is paramount. The Waterbury Rotary Club reserves the right to remove any participants from the parade who, in the sole opinion of a designated Parade Marshall, is deemed to be either unsafe or potentially unsafe.

14. Emergency vehicles may ONLY sound sirens in the event of an emergency call and need to leave the parade. Other use of sirens is strictly prohibited.   No Exceptions.

15. In Case of Emergency, all entries shall clear the travel lane and allow the passage of emergency service personnel and vehicles and proceed as directed by Parade Marshal or emergency service personnel.

Winning floats from the 2022 NQID are:

• Best Overall Trophy Winner - True Value Hardware (Waterbury)

• Best Antique Vehicle - The Silver Annie (Johnson)

• Most Funny - Zenbarn (Waterbury)

• Most Patriotic - Waterbury Ambulance (Waterbury)

• Best Kids - Berry Patch Child Care (Moretown)

• Best Use of Theme - The DEW (Harwood Students)