4th of July Parade Celebration Schedule

Happy Fourth of July!

Everybody knows that the Amherst Village is the best spot to celebrate this patriotic holiday. The theme for the Amherst parade  this year is Summer Fun.

Local gubernatorial and congressional candidates will be in the parade, alongside representatives from the Romney and Obama campaigns. Also, look our for the Amherst Patch banner held by Local Editor Robert Michaelson.

Plan to take pictures of the 4th of July parade celebrations? Email your best shots to Robert.Michaelson@patch.com or text them to 508-577-6988. We will post them right onto Amherst Patch! (Please include your name with your photos)

Historical Museums Open, Middle Street: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Children's Bicycle Parade: 10:00 am, with judging at 9:45am (Knight Field on Main St.)

Parade “Step-off” from Wilkins School: 10:00 am 

Village Green Activities including Art Show, Booths, Clowns, Pocket Ladies, Children's Activities, Food, and Old Fashioned Craft Demonstrations: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Animals on the Green: 9:00 am-12:30 pm (Middle Street End)

Declaration of Independence - Uncle Sam: 9:15 am (Reviewing Stand)

The Music Man Quartet!: 9:45 am (Reviewing Stand)

Antique Auto Show—Church Side of Green: 11:00 am

Reviewing Stand Ceremonies with Dignitaries, Awards, Citizen of the Year: Following the parade

Dog Tales—A Dog Show: Following Ceremony (Reviewing Stand)

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Parade Information For Participants

Parade participants should gather at Wilkins School by 9:15 to 9:30 am. The parade will start at 10:00 a.m.; Boston Post Road is closed at that time. Parking is behind the school only. Bathrooms are available in the school. If it is hot, it is recommended that participants bring water.

Dignitaries gather at the front corner of the entrance driveway near the school sign.

Floats and mini entries are assigned spots in the parking lot between the grassy areas. Marching groups also have assigned spots which they can find with the help of the volunteers wearing orange vests or committee badges. Judging of floats and mini entries will be at 9:30 a.m.

Fire engines will line up opposite Wilkins School on Boston Post Road. Antique cars will line up along New Boston Road. Dogs planning to be in the Puppies on Parade will meet at Spalding Field which is at the corner where Davis Lane, Foundry Street, and Christian Hill meet (just past Clark School).

Political campaigners gather on Jones Road where they will line up in assigned spots. There is a stairway leading from the Wilkins School parking lot to the Jones Road area. All campaign floats should go directly to Jones Road.

The Children’s Bicycle Parade forms on Knight’s Field which is the triangular lawn at the entrance of town when coming from Milford. Judging will be at 9:45 am and the parade will be at 10:00 am. Children riding bicycles must be wearing helmets. Insurance rules prohibit the throwing of anything, including candy, during the parade.