UPDATE: Your Guide to Groton's 4th of July Parade 2014

Update, 7:53 a.m. Friday, July 4

The 4th of July parade in Groton has been canceled due to the weather forecast.

There is no rain date, according to the message on the Groton Parks & Rec automated phone system. 


Original June 24 post:

Get your chairs and sunscreen ready! Groton's 4th of July parade will kick off at 10 a.m. Friday, July 4.

The parade theme is "The American Dream." Grand Marshal Amby Burfoot is a local resident, author, Olympian and Boston Marathon champion.

• Be prepared for weather — drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen for hot days and wear wet weather gear for rainy days.
• Drive slowly and watch for pedestrians
• Take the Shuttle Bus
• Park vehicles that are not in the parade near the Groton Shopping Plaza.
• Plan to arrive early, between 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
• Take the Shuttle Bus from the US Post Office behind the Groton Shopping Plaza to the starting point for the line up.
• The shuttle bus will not run after the parade.
• Please display your assigned number  so it can be seen by others. All members of your group should know this number. Make additional copies for extra vehicles.

Line Up

• Vehicles – all vehicles line up at Grasso Technical High School.
• Marchers – all marchers line up at Poquonnock Plains Park.
• Antique vehicles and horses – line up at Sutton Park
• The parade starts promptly at 10:00 a.m.  Please plan to arrive by 9:00 a.m. for line-up.
• At 9:45 a.m., all vehicles at Grasso Technical School will begin moving down the hill towards the starting point at Poquonnock Plains Park.
• Please have all vehicles remain in the right lane as they move.
• All groups from Grasso Technical School, Sutton Park and Poquonnock Plains Park will be merged together at the start of the parade route in the correct order.

During the Parade

• Maintain the interval between the groups ahead of and behind you.
• Keep moving! 
• To discourage children from racing into the street, candy and other give-aways may not be thrown from vehicles.
• Marchers walking along the edge of the street may hand these items out. 
• Water is available at the Groton Utilities Water Treatment Plant at the intersection of South Road and US Route 1.  It is also available at the reviewing stand located at Chelsea Groton Bank.
• Parade entries are judged during the parade from the viewing stand located at the Chelsea Groton Bank near the end of the parade route.  If you have not done so already, you may submit a short statement to be announced as you pass the viewing stand.

• If first aid is needed, contact a parade volunteer to summon assistance.
• If an emergency vehicle is needed – the parade will shift to the right side of the road to let the vehicle pass on the left.
• Have all children stay with the group.

After the Parade

• Set up a time and place to meet once the parade ends.
• Award winners will be contacted after the parade.  We plan to present awards at a future Town Council meeting.
• At the conclusion of the parade, you will not be able to travel down Route 1 back to the starting location until the entire parade is complete.
• To leave after the parade, vehicles may use Route 1 towards Interstate 95 or take Drozdyk Drive to Buddington Road.
• The gates to Grasso Tech will be locked one hour after the conclusion of the parade.

Questions? Contact Jerry Lokken jlokken@groton-ct.gov at 860-536-5682.