Our History

Brief History of Wakefield’s 4^th of July Parade

1922 – Wakefield’s FIRST 4^th of July parade held.  The precursor to the Chamber of Commerce thought the parade would be a good way to bring people into the town.  Colonel E.J. Gihon was the first Chairman of the Parade. 

1930 – 300^th anniversary of Wakefield and the next 4^th of July parade held in town.  The parade was the conclusion to a weeklong tercentenary celebration. 

1933 – A general committee was formed to put together a 4^th of July “Community Day” event, including a parade sub-committee (first time the WSSC was involved in the parade preparations).  The new war tanks were pulled through the parade route and fired off afterwards.  New and old firefighting equipment was displayed and demonstrated during and after the parade, some dating back into the 1850s.  A squadron of airplanes flew over Wakefield during the parade as part of the entertainment.

1942 – Wakefield Defense Demonstration instead of a parade and 4^th activities.  The only 4^th of July “parade” held in Wakefield during WWII.  Parade used as an incentive for people to “join up” and do their part in the war effort.  Women’s units were a large part of the parade – Red Cross, and Mass. Women’s Defense Corps for example. 

1946 – First peacetime parade.  Life Magazine covered Wakefield’s 4^th of July celebration to show how a New England town celebrates the first peacetime celebration in 5 years – However the article was never published due to a more pressing story.  Wakefield was chosen because of its scenery and the Lake.  Parade was considered the best in the town’s history, and called the “West Side Victory Celebration.”  It honored WWII veterans and women in the war effort. 

1948 – Annual parade starts.  Up until this point the parade was an occasional occurrence but this year was the start of the Wakefield tradition as we know it today.  It was called a “monster parade” because of its size. 

1950 – JFK comes to Wakefield.  He gave a speech at the night before festivities about independence and the wars we fought to preserve them.  He was a State Representative at the time.

1952 – Fourth of July celebration named best in New England by Boston newspapers.  “The annual fourth of July celebration…has become known as the outstanding civic festival in New England.”  Boston Post wrote “all roads lead to Wakefield on the fourth of July.”  WSSC president had a 15 minute TV interview on June 30^th to promote the parade and activities in Wakefield on the 4^th. 

1954 – Korean POWs were special guests of the parade.  Massachusetts governor Christian A. Hester was present at the parade, walked and was met with applause.  As was a former POW amputee who was the highlight of the parade.

1957 – Largest attended parade in its history.  It was estimated that over 150,000 people came to Wakefield to see the parade and fireworks.  Because of this, the 1958 parade was much smaller and lower key.

1976 – Bi-centennial events held.  It was a two-day affair with the parade being held on the 5^th of July.

1978 – the first time the parade which had been planned was cancelled due to rain.

1986 – WSSC Celebrated its 50^th year with big celebrations.

1990 – No 4^th of July parade in Wakefield.  1989 was the last year the WSSC put on the parade.

1991 – The Wakefield Independence Day Committee (WIDC) was formed and held its first 4^th of July parade.

1996 – The parade route was changed to the route that we have today – Starting on North Ave, turning up Church Street, onto Common Street and down Main Street to the Galvin.

2013 – The WIDC disbanded and there was no parade for two years.

2014 – The current WIDC was formed, but held off having a parade.

2015 – The first parade of the current WIDC.

2020 – 75th parade celebration, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the global pandemic

2022 – The parade’s 100th anniversary and 75th parade to be celebrated! Though the previous two years the parade was cancelled, it all worked out to make 2022 an even bigger anniversary.