PARADE LOGISTICS

Please download attachment for complete details.

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SHUTTLE SERVICE

To reduce downtown traffic and to have the convenience of your car at the parade end point, a shuttle service will run from Stafford Motor Speedway (55 West Street) to downtown Stafford. 

To utilize service: 

• Enter via main entrance at the Speedway and park in main lot – please note restricted parking areas upon arrival.

• Shuttle service pickup will be near handicap parking, just after parking gate. 

• Service begins at 10:30AM and will continue through parade commencement.

ARRIVAL:

An event staff person (wearing a safety green shirt) will be assigned to each group designation. Look for your group number on Furnace Avenue), which designates where your lineup will begin.  

PARADE PARTICiPANT DROP OFF

If you are dropping off a parade participant, use the Town Hall Parking lot, located at 1 Main Street. Police and CERT will be crosswalks for safety. Participants may also be dropped off at the top of High Street, top of Silver Street, or at the Corner of Furnace Avenue/Edgewood Street.   

ROAD CLOSURES

• Furnace Avenue: closed from the corner of East Main Street (near the Stafford Savings Bank Main Branch) to Edgewood Street. With the expectation of horse/livestock trailers, northbound traffic on Furnace Avenue will be closed to all vehicles.

• High Street: from Furnace Avenue to the corner of Silver Street. 

• Silver Street: from Furnace Avenue to the intersection of Edgewood Street.

• Beginning at 6am, a parking ban will be enforced on Main Street, West Main Street, and West Street. 

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PARADE LINEUP BEGINS AT 11:30AM - 12:30PM

PLEASE BASE YOUR ARRIVAL ON TIME NEEDED TO PREPARE YOUR GROUP OR FLOAT

GROUP 1: PARADE LEADS (line-up in order listed)

Stafford PD *

Grand Marshals/TTT Farms *

300th Anniversary Committee Float *

Elected Officials *

TTT Farms Carriage with Gretchen Tucker *

Associated Light Horse *

Peters Corps *

Phantom Signal Corps *

2/8 Cav *

SHS Marching Band & Color Guard *

Stafford Public Schools *

GROUP 2: WALKING GROUPS (Line-up in order of arrival)

Aisling Farm Roots & Shoots

Big Y

BSA Troop 50

Conservation Commission with SHS Environmental Club 

Cub Scout Troop 50

Girl Scouts

GROUP 3: FLOAT/TRAILER & TOW VEHICLE – OR – VEHICLES WITH WALKERS (Line-up in order of arrival)

2nd Congregational Church of West Stafford 

3M: vehicle and float

American Legion

Aubuchon Hardware

Bradway’s Sugar House

Cub Scout Pack 81 & Boy Scout Troop 81

Down to Earth Farm CSA

Fenton River Veterinary Hospital 

First United Methodist Church

Greg Lanz Plumbing

Italian Benefit Society

Johnson Memorial Hospital 

Paradiso Insurance 

St. Edward Church

Stafford Agricultural Commission

Stafford Democratic Town Committee

Stafford Garden Club

Stafford Historical Society 

Stafford Lions Club

Stafford Open Party

Stafford Republican Town Committee

Stafford Savings Bank

Stafford Soccer Club

Staffordville PTO

TTM Technologies

Unified Sports Teams

GROUP 4: EQUINE/LIVESTOCK ENTRANTS (AND THOSE NEEDING animal TRAILER DROP OFF) 

Fenton River Veterinary Hospital

Reddington Rock Riding Club

Woody Aborn

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GROUPS 5 & 6 WiLL LINE UP AT STAFFORD SCHOOL COMPLEX: 145 Orcuttville Rd

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GROUP 5: STAND ALONE VEHICLES , (Line-up in order of arrival unless denoted**

Stafford Department of Public Works *

Al Panciera 

Alpine Tree Company

Aqua Pump

AT&T 

Automedics 

Bob Titus/VFW

Brendan McNerney

Brian Shackway

D’Amico Electric

Dick Mo

Dick Mottes

Festi's Oil Service Inc

Furness Brothers

Hopko Construction

Hopko Homes

Leonard’s Auto Parts

Modern Milkman

Proulx Builders

Ravetto Family

Stafford Sand and Gravel, Sims LLC, Fine Swine BBQ

Stafford Veterinary Center

Tim Harvey

Williams Oil

GROUP 6: FIRST RESPONDERS(Line-up in order of arrival, unless denoted**)

Stafford Fire Department No. 1 *

West Stafford Fire Department *

Crystal Lake Fire Department

Somers Fire Department

Tolland Fire Department

Union Volunteer Fire Department 

Willington Fire Department

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GUIDELINES

• • This parade will include a variety of entrants, from livestock to small children. Please remain respectful and cognizant of our varied participants. 

• • This is an ever-moving parade, please do not stop at any point. 

• • We have a number of point people assisting with parade lineup (designated by safety green t-shirt), please follow their direction. 

• • When arriving to the Speedway, your group will be directed to designated areas denoted above. Please follow instruction of those directing parade participants. 

• • Grandstands/bleacher viewing will be located on West Main Street, across from Bittersweet.

• • 25 feet should be maintained between delegations throughout parade route for both safety and photographs. 

• • With the expectation of horse/livestock trailers/tow vehicles, non-parade vehicles will not be permitted to enter Furnace Avenue between Edgewood and East Main Street.

• • Units must only drive forward, no backing is allowed.

• • Confetti and/or glitter are prohibited because they are difficult to clean up.

• • No alcohol, illegal substances, smoking or inebriation is allowed in the pre-parade assembly area or on the parade route

• • For spectator safety, handouts of any kind must be passed hand-to-hand from parade walkers to spectators at the curbside.

• • No horn honking is allowed. 

Important Reminders​

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PARADE CHECK-IN: 11:00AM-12:30PM

You will receive an entry number prior to event day. The parade team will direct you to your line-up position, arrival time depends on parade position. Schedule to follow.  

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PARADE STEP OFF: 1:00PM sharp

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PARADE ROUTE: 

Furnace Avenue to Main Street, West Main Street and left onto West Street. Using map below, zoom in to view mapped parade route.

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PARADE CONCLUSION: Stafford Motor Speedway, site of the original  Stafford Springs Agricultural Park Fair Grounds (55 West Street). Entrants are encouraged to park their floats for onsite at the Fairgrounds for public viewing.

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PRIZE CATEGORIES: 

While you are not required to adhere to a specific theme, ​prizes will be awarded for the following categories:

1. Spirit Award: Float/entry that best celebrates the Stafford Anniversary  

2. Heritage Award: Float/entry that best honors Stafford’s history.

3. Best in Show: Best float entrant over all

4. Civic Award: The best entry from a civic/nonprofit organization.

5. Business Award: The best entry from a local business.

6. School Award: The best entry from a school (can be a float or band).

7. Sound/Movement Award: The best entry for a band/dance group.

8. Agriculture award: The best entry depicting Stafford’s past, current or future agricultural community.

9. Family Float: best entry from family or neighborhood.

10. Out of Towner Award: best representation from an out-of-town entrant.

300 year anniversary parade registration

primARY CONTACT INFORMATION

DETAILS OF YOUR ENTRY

What type of entry will your group have?

All animal units must be cleaned up after before, during and after the parade. 

All youth groups must be accompanied by adults

Excessive horn blowing and continual use of sirens will not be tolerated

Provide logistical details of your entry

For example: decorated float towed by pickup truck and accompanied by marchers; unit of 6 mounted horses; walking group of 14 with banner; fleet of 5 military vehicles; single classic car. If undecided at this time, details can be sent via email by August 20, 2019 to   

Provide description of your organization & float

What inspired your float theme, what is your organizations affiliation with the Stafford community, group's mission, etc. This information will be used for parade announcer and in 300 Year Anniversary event materials. If undecided at this time, details can be sent via email by August 20, 2019 to   

Will you need a staging area prior to parade lineup

For example: float assembly, animal trailer load/off load, etc. 

If undecided at this time, details can be sent via email by September 6, 2019 to   

NOTE: You will be notified via email that your registration for the 300th Year Anniversary Parade has been received. Parade guidelines, waivers and logistical details will be emailed following registration confirmation. 

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