For the thousands who go every year, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade will feel warmly familiar. An array of town and state politicians, service personnel and first-responders, military veterans and Rhode Island celebrities will be walking the famed two-and-a-half-mile route on Monday, July 4.
Adding much of the color and sounds of the day will be another diverse array of drum corps, militia, rock bands, marching bands, singers, trucks, floats hot cars, cool cars and firetrucks.
For those who have never been, a quick primer ...
- The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Hope and Chestnut streets. It marches south on Route 114 to the Lobster Pot restaurant, hangs a sharp left onto High Street, and continues back north to State Street, beside the Bristol Town Common.
- The entire route and some surrounding streets will be closed to vehicle traffic at 8 a.m. on parade day.
- Pets and alcoholic beverages should be left at home.
- Overnight camping is prohibited, and no one should set up chairs, blankets, tarps, etc. until 5 a.m. on parade day.
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Fireworks, Silly String, “Poppers”, streamers, waterguns, and projectiles of any kind are prohibited.
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Bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates are prohibited along parade route during parade. Anyone using any such transportation must walk along the parade route with bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates at their side.
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Soliciting along the parade route is illegal.
- Expect it to last two to three hours.
You can follow along with the complete Parade Order of March here.