Wolfeboro Parade
 

Does anyone have pictures of the Wolfeboro parade today?

Wasn't able to make it this year and really missed all the Patriots.

Thanks Happy 4th

I didn't take any pictures but I thought it was wonderful this year. I thought it was a lot better than last year. It lasted about and hour and 20 minutes I think. Such fun to watch!

Glad you liked it. Was marching with the Lawn Chair Drill Team....what fun we had!!!! We're aging and could use some new young blood!

Wolfeboro Parade
 

Sorry, no pictures, but the Parade was spectacular. The lawn chair drill team was, as usual, the hit of the Parade. Mr Caesar and his legion bring an anticipated period of entertainment to the parade which everyone awaits anxiously. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you Pete!!

:)
 

Check Jimmy Fallon's Twitter.... :)

I was quite disappointed since it has become a 90 minutes commercial for local businesses. Businesses with walking signs that they now have lobster rolls?????

You know that someone from the Wolfeboro Inn hit that lady carrying the lobster roll sign, in the head with a hotdog wrapped in foil. I don't know if it was done on purpose, to be funny, or by mistake but it happened.

I have pictures!
 

...and lots of them! I will try to post them today or tomorrow!
Was a great parade. The Lawn Chair Drill Team is the highlight of the parade!! :)

I did not know and I feel bad for her. I hope she is OK. I suspect someone was trying to be funny.

This does not change my opinion of the commercialism though.

Thank you, NHKATHY

Looking forward to all your pictures.

I suspect they were trying to be funny too. I sure hope so!! As far as the commercialism I think that has really been what the parade is all about. Businesses are trying to promote themselves. But I do agree, I said while watching the parade that I think they should at LEAST be required to put a few flags or decorate in some way each vehicle that is entered. Who cares about watching a plain old car or truck going by. There were a couple that didn't have any decorations at all and if that was what the parade was like, nobody would go to it.

We have been attending the Wolfeboro parade for many years, and would agree that this years version was disappointing. As many have mentioned, it was mostly commercial advertising with minimal effort put into decorating. The music acts were few, one marching band and a few float-riding guitar players. Even the always fun lawn chair crew seemed a bit subdued.

I hope this is a reflection of the overall economic times and not a trend.

I was part of the Lawn Chair Drill team and believe me, we were not subdued. Guess it depends on what we were doing while we passed where you were standing. We needed to bring it down a notch every now and then, or we would have collapsed before we reached the judges!!!

We went over for the 1st time this year, parked the bike at the docks along with only about 5 other vehicles. Everyone else parked along the street.

We thought that about 60% of the parade was very good. Things like the group of vets, the Seal Team 6 float, the lawn chair group, baseball team, what live music there was, the WW II vehicles and many others were great.

The many small businesses that simply walk along, with no thoughtful display, but just handing out info, added nothing to the parade and expanded the time to 90 min.

Our opinion: Overall we though that the parade was good. If trimmed to a 45 to 60 min parade by cutting out the zero thought walkers, but getting another band or two, it could be a great parade.

I love the Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade and I try to go when I can.
I agree with what was said above.
I always love seeing all the veterans, military vehicles, and marching bands. Wish there was more bands though (I think there was there only one marching band this year? or was it 2?).
The Lawn Chair Drill Team is also a highlight for me. Someone above wrote that they seemed a bit subdued, but I do think that it does all depend on where you are sitting and what the group does when they are at that point in the parade... This year the group happened to do a long version of their performance right in front of where we were sitting - what a treat!
The only thing I had a problem with (well not really a problem, but it was noticed) was that there seemed to be more vehicles parked along the parade route than usual... I always make it a point to park in an area where the parade does not march through, so as not to block the view for spectators, then I walk back to the parade route and pick a spot to sit. I happened to luck out and find a spot to sit with my group that didn't have any big vehicles blocking the view...
All in all, great parade - my pictures will be posted soon! :)

Great points about the parade. I think NHKathy summed it up well. It's not perfect but it's one of the better ones in the Lakes Region.

Theme?
 

Maybe the parade could have a theme and that would help the local businesses get creative with their parade presentation?

I would think the theme is Patriotic?
just sayin... :)

Wolfeboro Parade
 

Say what you want, and, like everything, there are multiple sides to this event, but I enjoy the home-town, local area, grass-roots undertaking by people who just want to have fun and comply (hopefully) with the theme.

What could be more exciting to an aging grandparent than to see a grandchild doing something in a 4th of July Parade. What the heck, it doesn't even have to be an aging anything, maybe just a friend. Judging by the applause along the way I would say a lot of people were glad to be at the Parade and see people in the Parade.

Americana at its best! Thank you all participants.

Camp Guy, I think you have hit on one of the main issues. As a parent and a resident of a small town, I love the kids on the baseball floats and other similar ones.

I remember thinking when they went by that those kids (and their families) now had lifetime memories that we all cherish and which make a 4th parade so special.

It was the predominance of the commercial side that was an issue. I would have liked to see more high school bands, girl scout floats, boy scouts, 4H, etc. The latter few is what was missing.

Barbara, please forgive my comment about the lawn chair crew. They are still the highlight of the parade, and I'm sure, worth every penny that each of you make for the effort! ;)

I know, that was kind of a stupid comment. The theme of the parade is the 4th of July!! Independence from Britain. Red, white and blue. The flag. America!!

I guess what I was trying to say is that maybe the commercial participants could have a little more guidance on how to spice up their parade presence. Kazoo band. A thematic float. Tossing candy to the kids. Character or scene from Wolfeboro history. You know, something that makes their presence memorable.

When I move there I may offer my parade consultation services:D

What I love to see at parades...

Veterans.... many thanks for their service and "blank check" (their lives on the line) for our freedom...
A great local marching band or high school marching band...
The kids' marching... (scouts, ball teams, church or school groups)...
Civic-minded groups, like the Masons, Shriners, local women's clubs...
You get the idea...

I hate seeing politicians marching to campaign - or worse yet - they have someone march for them because they're somewhere else that's more important...

And I'm not crazy about local businesses using the event to promote themselves... if they're sponsoring a team or something, it's one thing, but I don't need to see "Steve's Carpets & Tile" on display and their latest sales banner while I'm at an Independence Day parade (or worse yet, Memorial Day parade)... that's more appropriate at a home show, trade show, or even Old Home Day...

There's many opportunities for businesses to advertise - just don't commercialize our patriotic or religious holidays and events, please....

The parade does have a theme each year. This year it was "Community is Strength?". For those of you who are summer visitors, you might not realize what a strong and committed community Wolfeboro is. We have a large number of service organizations and hundreds of volunteers working countless hours on all of them. The community comes together all throughout the year supporting wonderful fund raising events planned by various organizations. It results in a rich social life for those of us here year round and substantial money raised for the organizations who in turn are giving back to members of the comminity in need.

Well, I only saw some of the participants going home from the back of the ambulance taking me to HH. Looked like some great fun.

Parade pics in gallery.
 

I see NHKathy posted some parade pics in the photo gallery. Thanks for posting. Great shots!

I can't help but remember that the President Of The United States could not find time to visit or address the Boy Scouts Of America on their 100th anniversary. Just sayin. :( NB

What does that have to do with this thread?

If that doesn't bother you..that's fine. :D NB

Was Mitt's Rambler American car with the side vent windows and windshield wipers that are powered by engine vacuum pressure anywhere in the parade? Not interested in Mitt......just in his early 1960's Rambler car with those side vent windows.....was it in the Wolfeboro parade? As long as the parade route was on flat roads, or downhill roads, the windshield wipers would be working good!

Thanks Kathy!
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...m/100_3813.JPG

Thanks from me too, Kathy. Great shots

I also was disappointed that we didn't have as many bands this year, Slickcraft.

Seeker, that's awful, are you ok now?

Cate P., as someone said the parade does have a theme each year. They are not allowed to throw candy as it is considered too dangerous. They are not supposed to spray water either but you might have noticed that the one truck snuck in at the end.

I also love the parade and wouldn't miss it for the world. If the businesses didn't want to advertise, there wouldn't be much of a parade so that is ok with me. I just like to see their vehicles decorated at least a little. Let's face it, even the "non profits" like the dance studios and the play are advertising. I don't remember any Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. I don't think those groups are as active in town as they used to be, but I could be wrong.

You're welcome! :)
I have a lot more pictures; but it took me about 20 min or so just to post those three. I'm trying to figure out how to post/upload multiple pictures at once, haven't figured it out yet though... Anyone have any ideas? :)