By By Maryjane Williams The Berkshire Eagle
PITTSFIELD 鈥 The city鈥檚 Independence Day parade hits the street this Friday, with a youthful twist.
鈥淭his year’s theme is 鈥榊oung at Heart,鈥 which is a celebration of all [the] young people in our community and what they mean to us,鈥 said Rebecca Brien, the president of the Pittsfield Parade Committee. 鈥淚t’s really to celebrate Pittsfield.鈥
Embodying this year鈥檚 theme, 23-year-old Madison Quinn will serve as the youngest grand marshal in parade history. The Pittsfield native founded Strong Little Souls, a nonprofit that supports young children who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families, when she was just 13.
The parade will kick off at 10 a.m., rain or shine, at the corner of West Housatonic and South streets. More than 150 units including floats, cars and musical groups will travel north along South and North streets before turning onto Wahconah Street and ending at Wahconah Park. The parade is expected to last a little over two hours, Brien said.
Spectators can expect to see a mix of local favorites and out-of-state performers at this year鈥檚 parade, including the Pittsfield High School marching band, the Berkshire Be-Witches, Berkshire Brazil, and the Long Island-based Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Joining the celebration from out of state are the WhoaPhat Brass Band and Pennsylvania鈥檚 Greater Kensington String Band, along with the Patriots Marching Band from Minnesota, which is bringing 60 high school musicians.
The parade will also feature a lineup of colorful balloons, including nostalgic favorites like Strawberry Shortcake and the Smurfs.
With sunny skies and temperatures expected near 75 degrees, Brien said she expects large crowds and encouraged spectators to arrive early to secure a good spot.
鈥淚t’s going to be a spectacular parade this year,鈥 she said.
The event is entirely planned and staffed by local volunteers, including the Parade Committee, which begins work in August, and is funded through community donations. This year鈥檚 parade costs about $100,000, Brien said, with a majority of the funds going towards music, balloons and insurance.
Parking will be available at the Fenn Street/First Street lot, the Eagle Street lot, the McKay Street parking garage and the Summer Street lot. There will not be any parking allowed along the parade route, at the staging area or at Wahconah Park.
For more details or to learn about volunteering, visit pittsfieldparade.com.