One of the most popular events at Westbrook Together Days has always been the parade.
Lisa Glidden, this year’s parade chairperson, had 34 registrations for the parade, one less than last year with 10 days to go. “We may go over that. I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” she said.
Westbrook’s Little League New England championship team that played in the World Series will be the grand marshal. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, from the corner of Lincoln and Bridge streets and proceed along Bridge Street to Main Street en route to Riverbank Park.
Many Westbrook residents will stake out their spot early, placing lawn chairs along the parade route to ensure a good vantage point. The parade throng usually includes residents from surrounding communities.
The parade promises to have something for everyone from scout groups to a walking moose from Art Forms of Westbrook. Even with Christmas still more than six months away, the parade will include children in Christmas costumes, elves, a tea party float and Christmas trees sponsored by the Festival of Trees.
The parade will have plenty of action. Hockey players from the middle school will skate on roller blades and dancers from the Drouin Dance Center will perform along the route. The Salvation Army’s River of Life in Westbrook will have a dance troop, along with a float.
There will be rifles and flags fluttering as the parade features the Westbrook Police Department color guard and the Kora Royal Guards.
Entries of trucks and cars of all descriptions have signed up. In addition to several entries from private companies, the city’s equipment will include four fire trucks and two from public services. The Maine Army National Guard has volunteered a Humvee and a cargo truck.
Antique tractors from the Southern Maine Tractor Club will chug along. Beech Ridge Motor Speedway has entered its pace car and there will be a selection of racecars from a variety of classes.
For vintage car buffs, the parade will showcase several antique cars, including Elmer Larson of Westbrook with his 1930 Model A Roadster. Mr. Bagel will have a 1931 Ford panel delivery truck, and Modern Pest Services will parade their 1947 Dodge Fargo.
Mascots will thrill the younger parade goers. Mercy Bear from Mercy Hospital will march, along with Pazzo the Amato’s Tomato and Oakie the Acorn from Oakhurst Dairy.
Trinity Lutheran Church and the Westbrook School Department will also have floats. Other registrations include a Metro bus, Westbrook Republican Committee, Sysco Northern New England of Portland, Pike Industries, Lilly’s Limousine, Larson’s Auto Salvage, Boy Scout Troop 81, WJBQ and Ernie’s Cycle Shop
Heading up the parade for her first time, Glidden of Glidden Paving and Excavating is getting a hand from her sister-in-law, Lorraine Glidden. But an additional volunteer or two would be welcome to assist in lining up the parade.
Glidden is still accepting parade registrations. She said floats or units that show up on parade day would be accepted. “We’re taking them right up to the day,” Glidden said. “We’ll say no to no one.”
For more information about parade registration, call Lisa Glidden at 856-9990.
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