LINKS
Participant Line up by Division
10th Annual Park Road Parade
Clowns (left to right): Karen Pierson [with umbrella], Ron Porta [bow tie], Daren DeFrank [red braids], Tom Goodrum [rainbow hair], Parade Coordinator Richard Patrissi [in golf cart], Emily Glass [behind Richard], Anthony Barbosa [blue and white stripes], Diane Giansanti [check pants], and Jaci Corrigan [blue/purple hair]
The 10th annual Park Road Parade, set for Saturday, October 4, will be bigger and better than last year, according to parade organizer Richard Patrissi. The parade steps off at 10:30 AM, drizzle or shine, at Ringgold Street and ends at South Quaker Lane.
Over 100 contingents are expected to march in this year’s parade. The parade has a great cross representation of musical groups, dancers, clowns, Park Road businesses, civic groups, cultural organizations and local celebrities and officials. “The Park Road Parade is a true representation of all that is good in West Hartford,” Mr. Patrissi said.
Each year the parade draws over 7,000 people to Park Road neighborhood. Parade goers will be entertained by floats, antique cars and 2008 Ferrari’s, stilt walkers, dogs of all shapes and sizes, sports mascots including University of Hartford’s Howie the Hawk and Hartford Wolf Pack’s Sonar and police and fire color guards.
A parade would not be complete without marching bands. The 2008 Park Road Parade will feature the Conard High School and Sedgwick Middle School bands, the University of Hartford Steel Drum Band, the Connecticut Patriots Ancient Fife & Drum, the Windsor Fife and Drum Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band, and Rob the Drummer.
Awards are awarded each year to the best floats in the categories of best car, most unique float and best neighborhood group.
A parade of this magnitude involves lots of volunteers and hundreds of hours of planning. A big Thank You goes out to all of them.
The Park Road Parade began in 1998 to celebrate the completion of a two-year road renovation project. The project spanned Prospect Avenue to South Quaker Lane and included a new pavement, streetlights, and sidewalks. The theme then and now is to celebrate the neighborhood: its diversity of people, businesses and culture.
Bring the whole family to this wonderful celebration of West Hartford. For more information, please call Richard Patrissi at 233-2447.