Plans Coming Together for July 4 Celebration

While most Chelmsfordians are enjoying the beginning of a leisurely summer, Lynn Marcella, Jeff Hardy and the rest of the Chelmsford Parade Committee are sorting out details of this year's July 4 parade.

The annual tradition has grown into a days-long celebration with a concert on the common June 30, the Lions club's country fair July 3 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and July 4 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the actual parade on July 4 at 10 a.m.

This year's concert on June 30 will be a Neil Young tribute band, Rust Never Sleeps, along with Hardy's band Attik.

"Last year we did it will Rick Larrimore, the Rod Stewart (impersonator)," said Hardy. "It worked out well."

Bands including traditional Canadian marching bands, the U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty and local marching bands will all play in the parade. Marcella said she and the committee have about a $30,000 budget to spend on bands - one of the parade's biggest expenses.

"Businesses like Enterprise Bank or Lowell Five will sponsor the bands," she said. And Marcella and the committee won't turn away an offer of a band, marchers or a float entering the parade - even in mid-June.

"We want everyone to be involved," she said. "We're expecting a lot of politicans this year since it is a big election year. They like the visibility."

The Parade Committee will continue to sell raffle tickets during the celebration and will draw right after the parade.

Hardy and Marcella took over organizing the parade about five years ago after being involved in the town's 350th celebrations. The Chelmsford Business Association had taken it over but organizers decided it would be better to make the CBA and the parade committee separate organizations.

"It is an individual non-profit organization," said Marcella. "We have to raise about $50,000 to $60,000 to have the parade."

In addition to selling raffle tickets, banners throughout the town sponsored by businesses bring in a significant portion of that money, Marcella said. Business sponsorships also help.

These days, the committee will spend time coordinating which groups will march where in the parade and discuss the logistics of getting such a huge event off the ground.

"It's a fun group of people, but it's a dependable group of people. Everyone has a job, and they do it," said Marcella. 

The whole committee puts in a lot of time year round, she said, from coordinating the raffle to gathering permits for the actual parade.

"We work hard but we have fun doing it," she said. 

In the next few days, the committee will do site walks around the common and coordinate parade day logistics.

"It's all good," Marcella said. "Now we're in the home stretch." 

Keep reading Patch throughout the next few weeks for features on the three parade marshals: Angelo Taranto, Al Thomas and Bernie Battle.