BRATTLEBORO-The annual Brattleboro Goes Fourth! parade on July 4 featured plenty of vehicles from all the town departments, not many politicians, and lots of protesters.
Perennial participants included bands from the local American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School, and various veterans, civic, and youth groups. Local personality Alfred Hughes Jr. capped the event, wearing a red dress, white feathers, and a blue mesh shawl wrap.
The tradition of free speech was represented by approximately 200 marchers from Invisible Brattleboro, led by the Make Good Trouble Street Choir, protesting the Trump administration's various policies, and nearly 100 pro-Palestine protestors.
U.S. Rep. Becca Balint walked up Main Street, carrying a box of dog biscuits to hand out to canines along the parade route from Flat Street to the town common, while children scrambled for penny candy thrown from passing vehicles.
After the parade, the town Recreation & Parks Department presented a series of public concerts, sporting events, and family activities at Living Memorial Park throughout the afternoon and evening with food trucks at Living Memorial Park, bouncy houses for kids, a NECCA performance, a performance by the Gaslight Tinkers, and fireworks.
Recreation & Parks Director Carol Lolatte said the focus of the event was community building and bonding.
"I hope that people appreciate what the town does for the community," she said. "I hope that it continues to create that sense of community in celebration of our country. Our country, from time to time this past year, has been in a bit of turmoil, and I'm hoping that this can create a positive spin."
She said that one important thing to take away from this celebration is "the sense of community, the sense of celebration, the sense of America," all combined in "a positive atmosphere."
This thought was echoed by the people taking in the day's celebrations.
Lynda Lawrence, who led the group of baton twirlers from Kelly's Dance Academy in Brattleboro during the parade, said what makes this event an important tradition is how "everyone in the community looks forward to it."
"There's always a good turnout for the parade, especially with the weather. [It's] just a nice space for the community to come together."
For Nick Biddle, of Brattleboro, the holiday symbolized "the ability to demonstrate dissent and do so in community."
During the previous evening, John Hamilton, a Brattleboro police officer, also expressed how this event creates community - "for all towns around this size, some kind of celebration of a common history and a kind of summertime tradition that gets everyone to come together."
"Being outside and sort of enjoying that environment is generally important for cultural building, community building, and bridging differences - that sort of stuff," Hamilton said.
With additional reporting by Commons news editor Randolph T. Holhut.
This News item by Dashiell Moyse was written for The Commons.