CHESTERFIELD — People from the Hilltowns and beyond gathered along South Street and Main Road in Chesterfield Wednesday to celebrate Independence Day during the town’s 71st annual Fourth of July parade.
It was clearly a beloved tradition as people marching in the parade called out to friends and neighbors watching from the shaded sides of the road.
One woman from the Hampshire County Riding Club atop a brown horse with red, white and blue bows in its hair belted out, “I can’t believe how big you guys have gotten!” to two children as music from the Florence Community Band’s float filled the air.
Among those marching in the parade were several local fire departments, Holyoke’s Caledonian Pipe Band, the Hilltown Misfits 4-H club and the Worthington Gardeners. Other contingents included the Hampshire Lodge of Masons, Florence Bank, Trevor “The Games Man” on stilts, The Hilltown Sleddogs and Uncle Sam cruising on a Segway.
Several candidates for statewide elected offices also used the parade as an opportunity to raise awareness of their campaigns.
Ed Severance, a parade organizer, said that with the lingering heat wave, a misting tent had been set up on the parade route for the first time.
“If anyone gets too hot, they can go in there and cool down,” he said amid the sweltering heat.
There was also a group of women and girls from Chesterfield who marched with a banner that read “Women’s rights are human rights.” Angel Williams, who moved to Chesterfield last year, said that the women were not from a particular organization, but just wanted to spread their message.
“We had a lot of fun,” Williams said after marching. “All ages were represented. The littlest ones held the banner in front and in the back we had signs that said ‘Not done yet.'”
Taking in the parade were regulars Wayne and Fran Thibault of Northampton, who found a shady spot near the beginning of the route.
“We’ve been coming for several years now,” Fran Thibault said. “It’s a great small-town parade.”
And it wasn’t only Hampshire County residents that came to Chesterfield to celebrate. Samantha Turner and her 2-year-old daughter, Anastasia, traveled from Oklahoma to be with family from Huntington on the Fourth of July.
“Anastasia liked the bagpipes and fire trucks most,” Turner said. “We had a really nice time.”
The Fourth of July celebration continued on after the parade with a chicken barbecue, a magic show and face painting in the park, as well as a classic car show, live music in the town offices parking lot, and family softball nearby.