BRATTLEBORO — A century after celebrating itself with a 1912 theatrical extravaganza called the “Brattleboro Pageant,” the town will honor its past, present, and future this Fourth of July with a variety of free family Independence Day activities.
The 39th annual kickoff parade downtown will feature not only its usual bands and marchers, but also several re-creations of scenes from the 1912 pageant, which dramatized local history and hopes before a crowd of thousands at Connecticut River's now flooded Island Park.
The 10 a.m. march along Canal and Main streets will begin with skateboarders from Brattleboro Area Skatepark Is Coming presenting The Wilderness, the Agape Christian Fellowship presenting Life at Fort Dummer, and the Town Arts Committee, Brooks Memorial Library, Estey Organ Museum, Write Action, and the New England Youth Theatre presenting The Coming of Poetry, Art, Music and Drama.
The Pageant scenes will precede Grand Marshal Deirdre Baker, chosen to represent the community's present spirit for her recent fight against cancer while serving as volunteer coordinator of Brattleboro's free annual Christmas Breakfast.
Some 50 other entries - including the Brattleboro American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School bands, veterans, and civic and youth groups - will appear in divisions that Honor the Past, Celebrate the Community and Welcome the Future.
The march will be capped by a re-creation of the century-old pageant's Brattleboro Beautiful finale, in which the 1912 cast ushered in children representing the future, who in turn circled around Brattleboro-born New York opera star Mary Howe.
This year, marchers from the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association and Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity will lead students from the local Boys & Girls Club and state Governor's Institute on Current Issues & Youth Activism, who will be joined by present-day personality Alfred Hughes Jr. in his annual top-secret gown.
After, the town Recreation & Parks Department will offer a series of public concerts, sporting events, and family activities at Living Memorial Park - just off Western Avenue and Interstate 91's Exit 2 - from 1 p.m. until the start of fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Highlights include the local classic rock Brattlyn Brothers band from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.; children's entertainer T-Bone at 6:30 p.m.; and New England native Peter Miles and his rock, funk, blues, and jazz band from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. A full listing of events is available on the website www.brattleborogoesfourth.com.