Welcome to Wakefield On The 4th, the Chair Capital Of America

It started with a busy Farmer's Market Saturday and will end with the traditional fireworks over Lake Quannapowitt.

And in case you were wondering, if you haven't already staked out a spot with your chair(s) you're too late. Wakefield again looks like a Chairs-R-Us Super Store in the hours leading up to the July 4th parade. From soccer mom fold-ups, to beach chairs, the parade route is lined with chairs from start to finish. In fact, a reporter doing investigative story on the latest flavors at Cravings' struggled to get from his car to the sidewalk because of all the chairs.

But it's all worth it for one of the state's great parades. The parade grand marshal this year is World War II veteran Salvatore Orifice, longtime owner of the Wakefield Bowladrome.

Orifice has served on the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce; the Board of Directors at The Savings Bank; he’s an Honorary Life Member of the Wakefield Knights of Columbus Council 104, where he helped with the construction of the building on North Avenue. He’s a member of the Saugus Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as a past president of the Bear Hill Golf Club. Some of his charity work involved fund raising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and providing numerous civic and church groups, including the Special Olympics, with a fun day at the Wakefield Bowladrome, which the family has owned for 65 years.

Wakefield's July 4th schedule

7 a.m. -- Registration for Fishing Derby ~ Lower Common **

7:30-10:30 a.m. -- Children's Fishing Derby ~ ages 2-14 years **under 12 must be must be accompanied by an adult.

8 a.m. -- Registration for Pet Show ~ Upper Common

8:30 a.m. -- Pet Parade Begins**

8:30 a.m. -- Registration for Cart, Tricycle and Scooter Parade ~ Upper Common

9 a.m. -- Cart, Tricycle and Scooter Parade Begins **

9:30 a.m. -- Registration for Doll Carriage Parade ~ Upper Common

10 a.m. -- Doll Carriage Parade Begins**

10:30 a.m. -- Registration for Bicycle Parade ~ Upper Common

11 a.m. -- Bicycle Parade Begins**

12 -- Diaper Derby, crawling race, Lower Common followed by Children’s Races ~Toddlers thru 12 Years old and Adult Races**

1 p.m. -- Canoe and Kayak Races. Starting at the Head of the Lake to the Lower Common **under 18 years of age must be must be accompanied an adult. Weather Permitting

**In the event of passing showers, events may be delayed till showers pass

**Prizes and Trophies are awarded at the end of each event

Night Time

4:30 p.m. -- Wakefield Independence Day Parade

7 p.m. -- Buckley Brothers Band

9 p.m. -- Dan Clark, The Singing State Trooper

9:30 p.m. -- Fireworks

*Event ends immediately after Fireworks Display**

Wakefield center photo by Bob Holmes