Natick will not hold its Independence Day parade for the third straight year, according to the Natick Friends of the 4th group. This time, it’s more a lack of resources to blame than the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in the last two parades being scrapped.
From the Friends’ Board:
After an almost complete dissolution of the previous board of directors in 2018, a small group of less than 10 brand-new volunteers stepped up and pulled off a wonderful 4th of July parade in 2019. Unfortunately, we were not able to hold the parade in 2020 or 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and associated financial changes for sponsors. Our group has now decreased to six volunteers and no longer has the bandwidth or resources to plan, fundraise for, or produce a parade.
Last year, the Friends morphed the July 4 celebration into a spirited house decorating contest.
For those of us who have fond memories that go back to Natick’s 4th of July road race finishing in Natick Center (I’m not making that up, right?), and seeing TV cowboy Rex Trailer wave from a float, a third straight parade-less July 4th is disappointing.
Hopefully, we’ll see a comeback down the road.
The Friends is an all-volunteer group that raises money and organizes the parade. If you have ideas or questions, you can reach out here: info@natick4th.org
Please send tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com
Not the same as a July 4th parade, but one way to satisfy your parade fix this year could be moseying up the road to Wellesley for its Veterans Parade, slated for May 22. Like the Natick Friends of the 4th, the Wellesley Celebrations Committee that organizes the parade has found itself challenged to raise funds, especially because it just had a parade in October, delayed from May 2021 due to the pandemic.
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