Start Planning Your 2017 Float for the Fourth of July Parade

Let's make the 75th celebration memorable

September 17, 2016 • Saved under Committees
Press release

 

The Fourth of July Committee would like the community to get back to the tradition of entering floats in the annual Fourth of July parade. Floats can be elaborate team efforts or something as simple as the one pictured here: a vehicle enthusiastically decorated to convey a heartfelt message.
The Fourth of July Committee would like the community to get back to the tradition of entering floats in the annual Fourth of July parade. Floats can be elaborate team efforts or something as simple as the one pictured here: a vehicle enthusiastically decorated to convey a heartfelt message.

Town legend states that during World War II, while many men from Andover were away serving our country, two Blackwater Grange members, Etta Currier Haughton & Olive Seavey, decided to start the Andover Fourth of July celebration tradition. Their aim was to entertain the Andover youngsters at a time when so many menfolk were gone. Shortly thereafter, community volunteers formally organized the Fourth of July Committee, a non-profit community service organization whose sole purpose was to plan, oversee and pay for the Fourth of July celebration.

A lot has changed between 1942 and today, but the spirit of the Andover Fourth of July celebration has never been stronger! The committee is appealing to Andover and the surrounding communities to make this next year, our 75th, one of the most memorable and meaningful celebrations ever!

The committee has already started planning all aspects of Andover’s Fourth of July celebration for 2017, which will include the parade, the market/music on the Green, and the fireworks. To put together a parade worthy of a 75th celebration, the whole community needs to participate. Fourth of July parades of years past have included a healthy amount of decorated floats. Remember those days when businesses, organizations, families and even individuals took the time to put together a float that they and the community could be proud of?

In today’s fast-paced world, it probably seems almost impossible to find the time to create a float. But the payoff of seeing the faces of the parade watchers react to a funny or patriotic float is absolutely worth it! So, the Fourth of July Committee is asking for your help this coming year and hope residents will consider entering a float in the 2017 parade. The committee has already added one new feature to the 2017 parade. Watch for details next month!

The committee will be working hard to bring more vendors with interesting products, as well as continuing the children’s craft/game tent (which has received many positive comments) and, as in 2016, in 2017, we will have live music from local artists all day into the evening. Some surprises are in store as well for all those who visit the Green!

Who can forget the exclamation point at the end of Andover’s Fourth of July celebration?! The fireworks will be better than ever, keeping with the tradition of big booms and colorful displays.

For 2017, the committee is pulling out all the stops, so please consider a float and/or being a volunteer on the committee or on the day of the 4th celebration to make this the best Fourth of July celebration ever! If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity call Doug Phelps @ 802-310-1045. Thanks!