BRATTLEBORO — Milestones upon milestones! Brattleboro's free, family-friendly July 4 celebration celebrates its 40th anniversary this month.
The event, with its morning parade downtown, and its afternoon and evening of sports, music, and fireworks at Living Memorial Park, began in 1973 under the leadership of the late J. Wayne Corbeil, then-president of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber organized the celebration until 2010, at which time local leaders formed the “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” citizens committee to take over planning responsibilities.
The all-volunteer nonprofit group, cooperatively with the town Recreation and Parks Department, raises more than $10,000 annually to pay for local bands, pyrotechnics, liability insurance, and security.
Local businesswoman Kelli Corbeil - daughter-in-law of the lead founder of Brattleboro's July 4 celebration - will be grand marshal of the town's 40th annual Independence Day parade.
The United States is turning 237 years old this July 4.
Some 50 entries - including the Brattleboro American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School bands, veterans and civic and youth groups - will march down Canal and Main streets to the town Common at 10 a.m. in divisions that “Honor the Past,” “Celebrate the Community” and “Welcome the Future."
The march will be capped by an “Alfred Saves the World” finale featuring local personality Alfred Hughes Jr. in his annual top-secret gown and surrounded by youth bearing flags and messages mirroring the 1973 parade's tribute to Brattleboro immigrants and their native countries.
After the parade, the town Recreation & Parks Department will offer a series of public concerts, sporting events, and family-friendly activities at Living Memorial Park - just off Western Avenue and Interstate 91 Exit 2 - from 1:30 p.m. to the start of fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Fireworks are by Northstar, a Vermont-based company.
Highlights include the Santa Croce family band from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.; children's entertainers Vic and Sticks at 6:30; and New England native Peter Miles and his rock, funk, blues and jazz band from 7:45 to 9:30.
Thanks to citizen, civic and corporate donations, all events are free. Fireworks sponsor is Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee; parade sponsors are C&S Wholesale Grocers and G.S. Precision. Major supporters are Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Holstein Association USA, the Richards Group, the town Fire Department, and radio station WTSA.