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Small Vermont Town Makes
Independence Day its Town Holiday
57th annual Warren Fourth of
July Parade chosen as one of Vermont's Top Ten Summer Events
by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
WARREN, VT (from www.madrivervalley.com)
Some people in some towns get excited about Christmas.
Others make a big deal about Memorial Day. And, still others
have concerts and community parties for Columbus Day. In Warren,
Vermont, and the neighboring Mad River Valley towns of Waitsfield,
Fayston & Moretown, the hands down favorite holiday is the
Fourth of July. For the past 56 years, the town of Warren, Vermont,
has turned the Fourth of July into a full-day of parades, parties,
music, street dancing and overall celebrating, drawing crowds
of locals and tourists from neighboring towns, states and countries.
And, this year, the Warren 4th of July holds the distinction
of being selected as one of Vermont's Top Ten Summer Events.
"The Vermont Chamber of Commerce
reviews summer events from throughout the state," notes
Susan Roy of the local chamber of commerce. "The fact that
they've honored our celebration as one of the ten best that summer
has to offer in Vermont, it's a great honor."
Warren is in the Mad River Valley,
home to ski areas Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, and it sees its
share of visitors to its quiet downtown shops, dining and lodging
establishments during the winter, summer and fall months. The
date of July 4th, any year, turns the quiet downtown into a full-scale
festive community celebration, complete with parade, creative
floats, live music on the deck of the landmark Warren Store,
and a buddy badge contest. The rural community, population 1,500,
expands to 8,000 or 9,000 for the day-long event.
"I have actually heard that
other Vermont towns, including Waterbury and the capital, Montpelier,
work their parades and fireworks around us," shares Steve
Butcher, one of the many volunteer organizers. "Most have
their celebrations before or after July 4 knowing that they can
not compete with our celebration. In my opinion, that's flattering."
The parade and community involvement
has been around since the beginning. Creative, often political,
float design has always been a mainstay. The live music began
some time in the 70s. And, buddy badges, an entrance badge given
to all attendees who shell out a dollar, are a new tradition
started last year. Ten thousand numbered stickers are printed
with two of every number in the batch. Badge wearers who spot
their number match, or "buddy", each win identical
prizes.
For more information on this year's
Warren Fourth of July, visit www.warren4thofjuly.com.
Or, call the local chamber at 1-800-82-VISIT or visit www.madrivervalley.com.
The Mad River Valley, home to ski resorts
Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, offers visitors Historic Register
villages, fine dining, quaint shops and summer recreational opportunities
that include hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and soaring.
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