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On Friday morning, Mayor Linda Tyer delivered breaking news that the parade will be canceled this year for the second time since 1977. It was also canceled last year due to the novel coronavirus. It s disappointing to have to put another pause on the Fourth of July parade, but I just don t think that we can safely hold it this year, Tyer told local radio station Live 95.9. Though large outdoor gatherings of 250 people and parades will be permitted at 50 percent capacity beginning on May 29, Tyer said this does not help the parade because there is no way of determining the capacity and then limiting it to half. The parade regularly brings thousands of people to North Street and involves hundreds of participants and volunteers.
That is, if the coronavirus pandemic is under control, locally, within three months.
The all-volunteer group is ramping up efforts to secure marching units and get a head start on raising money for the 2022 edition of the Independence Day event.
âThe 2021 parade is already paid for. We estimate the cost will be $80,000,â parade committee President Peter Marchetti told The Eagle on Monday.
He says enough money left over from the 2019 parade and money raised for, but not used, in 2020 will pay for this yearâs parade.
As for the 2022 fundraising goal, Marchetti says it has been set at the standard $85,000 mark, but solicitation will begin later than usual. For example, fundraising letters will go out April 1, instead of March 1.