Grand Marshal Named For Upcoming Black Rock Day Parade

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The 2025 Black Rock Day Parade, which has been run since 1994, is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, announced Parade Chair Phil Blagys. It is scheduled to step off at noon at Burroughs Center on Fairfield Avenue.

Known as the "Best Small Parade in America," this year’s event will feature the Mattatuck Fife & Drum Corps, the
oldest fife & drum corps in the United States, the Black Rock Fife & Drum Corps, the Connecticut Alumni Senior
Drum & Bugle Corps, The Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band, the Klein Memorial Dancers, lots of music from local bands,
Amazing Andy, floats, dignitaries and much more.

The Parade Committee is also pleased to announce that Fred Haschak will serve as the 2025 Parade Grand
Marshal. Fred is a retired Captain of the Bridgeport Fire Department having served for 35 years and the first
member of the BFD to serve as our Grand Marshal. Fred is also a 51-year resident of Black Rock, a longtime
parishioner of St. Ann’s Church and an active volunteer at the Black Rock Food Pantry. And Fred is the dutiful
“keeper” of our community flags ensuring both the flag at St. Mary’s and the flag at the Grovers/Brewster park are
always flying at proper staff. Last Memorial Day, you could have found Fred lowering both to half-staff at dawn
and returning them to full staff at noon in keeping with a long-standing Memorial Day tradition.

"Fred’s dedication to his community and his love of country are a few of his characteristics that help make Black Rock a
true hidden treasure," said Black Rock Community Council President Nina Gibson in a statement. "We are honored this year to recognize Fred and his contributions to our neighborhood."

Our theme for Black Rock Day this year is "Black Rock, Our Hidden Treasure" and the parade will be a marching
celebration of this spirit.

It will step off from the Burroughs Center at noon and march west down Fairfield Ave., turn onto Gilman St. then
Harborview Ave. It will take a left onto Grovers Ave, right onto Brewster St and ends at Ellsworth Field where the
Black Rock Day festivities will be held immediately following the parade.

For more information contact: Phil Blagys, Black Rock Day Parade Chair
parade@blackrockcc.org
www.blackrockcc.org