Are you wild about the Fourth? We are!  And from all indications, Andover is too. 

We thank you all for your overwhelming support at Town Meeting. 

That’s right.  That’s the theme for this year’s Fourth of July Parade: Wild About the Fourth…and you can thank the AE/MS students for this brilliant idea. They were thinking along the lines of wild jungle animals, but you don’t have to limit yourselves to that. Interpret it any way you want. 

What’s really important is that everyone participates in the parade: family float, business float, animal float. You name it! If for no other reason, we’ve got great float prizes. The Grand Prize is once again $250. We’ve seen some amazing creations in the past.

While you are thinking about your float entry, the Fourth of July Committee is busy working in the background to line up entertainment, vendors on the Village Green, and, new this year, an inflatable obstacle course for the kids to enjoy.

Be sure to encourage your youngsters to participate in the Children’s Parade…decorated bicycles, wagons, costumes! Anything goes! 

When we reach back in time, we find that the reason that the Fourth of July parade was originally begun was for the kids. It was a bright spot in Andover during the dark days when the United States was entering World War II. That wonderful tradition has blossomed into the fantastic tradition it is today. 

Just think: The kids marching down Main Street on July 4, 2020, will be marching in the footsteps of Andover’s children 78 years ago! Close your eyes and imagine the happy sounds from the children of days gone by.

We have a lot of preparation work to do for the Fourth. The committee welcomes people who can help with the planning and also just on the day of the event. Simply message us on our Facebook page or give us a call: Doug Phelps at 802 310-1045; Donna Smith at 735-6131; or Beth Frost at 455-2882.