Parade returns to Plymouth's July 4 celebration, participants and donations sought

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth hasn’t seen a July 4 parade since 2019, but that will change next month, marking the return of an event that celebrates not only the country’s founding but also the people and organizations that makes the town itself a place worth celebrating. 

“This is definitely a rebuilding year,” Plymouth July 4 Committee Chairman Ken Tavares said.  

The theme of this year's parade is "A tribute to Plymouth."

All the holiday’s events were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID, and the same fate seemed sealed going into last year.  

Looking back:Fireworks extinguished this summer as Plymouth cancels July 4

More:Plymouth’s July 4 celebration gets ready to pop again

The lifting of pandemic restrictions in 2021, however, allowed the committee to move forward with the fireworks display, concert and annual 5K road race. Despite that, the parade was left off the list due to a lack of organizing time.  

“We had a tough couple of years,” Tavares said. “But we’re still out there, front and center, trying to have as fun and patriotic a day as possible July 4.” 

With $42,000 raised so far, the committee is a third of the way towards its fundraising goal of $120,000. 

“That covers police, fire, the DPW, the barges in the harbor, the fireworks and all the other costs associated with the parade,” he said. “We’re hoping in the next few weeks to get to that goal.” 

He has cause to be hopeful, as last year’s donations exceeded both expectations and previous records, which allowed for more fireworks to be added to the display that served as a one-year delay marking Plymouth’s 400th anniversary. 

“Last year the community really came together,” Tavares said. “We had a number of new people who donated. We’d love to have them come back.” 

More:Big check for big bang with Plymouth fireworks

Tavares credited that success in part to the availability of online donations through the committee’s website. 

“We found that last year was a big year for online donations,” he said. “The website makes it really easy to donate from the comfort of your own home.” 

In addition to donations, the committee is also seeking community groups to take part in the parade. Nonprofits can register for free (unlike politicians, which the site notes pay $500 apiece to participate). 

“We try to highlight the kids of the town, our nonprofits and veterans,” he said. “The parade is as good as the people and floats the community sends forth to be in it.” 

One unwelcome change that took place in the parade’s gap years is the lack of available participants in the Legion Bud Band, which has been a staple of the event for years. 

“We’re out looking for new bands, but they’re hard to get,” Tavares said. “We’re coming up for a good show for 2022, but we’re already looking towards 2023.”  

Despite that, other elements of the parade remain, including the creation of several floats by One Stop Painting. 

The day begins early, with the 7:30 a.m. start of the road race at Stephens Field. The parade will set out from its new launch point at the Cordage Commerce Center in North Plymouth at 9 a.m. Food trucks and festivities continue during the afternoon, with a free Plymouth Philharmonic concert at 7 p.m. on the waterfront to be followed by the fireworks at about 9. 

“It’s going to be a full day, from the road race and the parade to the concert and the fireworks,” Tavares said. “We think we’re going to put on a pretty good show.” 

The schedule of events, ways to donate and registration links for the parade and road race can all be found at July4plymouth.com.