Park Road Parade to Celebrate 18 Year Tradition This October

WEST HARTFORD, CT – The 18th annual Park Road Parade will be held this year on Saturday, Oct. 1.

The one-hour parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. at Ringgold Street and ends at South Quaker Lane, according to a release. Over 100 contingents are expected to march in this year’s parade.

The parade features bands, clowns, dancers, floats, dogs of all shapes and sizes, antique cars, color guards, businesses, civic and cultural organizations and town and state officials. The parade draws over 7,000 people each year to the Park Road neighborhood.

This year's Grand Marshals are Dennis House and Kara Sundlun of Eyewitness News 3.

Sundlun is a two-time Emmy-award winning journalist, who co-hosts Better Connecticut and anchors Eyewitness News at Noon. House is also an Emmy award-winning journalist, who co-anchors Eyewitness News at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Also featured will be the University of Hartford’s Brazilian Samba Band, Hall High School 9th Grade and Bristow Middle School 8th Grade combined band, Connecticut Valley Field Music, Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy Golden Phoenix, False Alarmers of Sphinx Shriners, Shriners Brass Band, Colchester Fife & Drum, Windsor Fife & Drum and The Boys of Wexford.

Awards are given each year to Best Float, Best Overall Performance, Best Costume, Best Musical Performance, and Best Community Spirit. West Hartford Community TV will be airing the parade live on Comcast Channel 5.

Local troops of the Boy Scouts of America will have three locations in which they will be selling popcorn: Steben Auto Body, Playhouse on Park and Effie’s Restaurant. The American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will also be hosting a bake sale near Steben Auto Body.

After the parade, The Boys of Wexford will be singing Irish songs, sea shanties and folk music at Effie’s Restaurant.

Public restrooms are located at Effie’s Restaurant, 91 Park Road, A.C. Petersen Restaurant, 240 Park Road, Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, and Three Ladies Antiques, 328 Park Road. Handicap parking is available at 120 Park Road.

Visit the Park Road CT website for more information.

Image via Park Road, West Hartford, CT Facebook page.