West Hartford’s Park Road Association will hold the final Park Road Parade on Oct. 5, 2024.

By Ronni Newton

Organizers of the Park Road Parade are inviting organizations, businesses, schools, or even groups of neighborhood residents to register to participate in this year’s parade – which will be the last one.

For more than two decades, the Park Road Parade has been written in pen on West Hartford’s activity calendar for a Saturday in October, a date when the sidewalks along Park Road are lined with families, children (and some adults) eagerly awaiting candy thrown by marchers and those riding on floats. The parade was rained out the past two years, and after much thought and consideration, the Park Road Association decided several months ago to pause the parade after this year.

On Oct. 5, 2024, beginning at 10:30 a.m., the Park Road Parade will kick off and marchers will complete the one-mile route for the final time.

Any and all neighborhoods and organizations are invited to participate, and there is no entry fee or other cost involved. Sign-up is available online (click here) or by emailing [email protected]. Awards will be given for: Best Float, Best Overall Performance, Best Costume, Best Musical Performance, and Best Community Spirit.

“We proudly announce our 2024 Grand Marshal is WFSB TV and podcast host Renée DiNino. Renée’s participation in the parade will showcase her passion for animal rescue and food donation,” organizers said.

The Park Road Parade originated as a celebration to bring Park Road businesses and residents together – the light at the end of the tunnel following completion of a two-year road reconstruction and neighborhood beautification project – and it was quickly embraced as one of West Hartford’s signature events. The first parade was held in 1999, and Rob Rowlson, then-West Hartford Director of Community Services, was one of the original organizers and cheerleaders for the event, and a co-host announcer for the parade for many years on West Hartford Community Interactive. Rowlson passed away in 2022, and although the weather has not cooperated the past two years, the intent has been to have a parade honor his legacy. This year’s parade will be a tribute to Rowlson.

Rob Rowlson (left) with Renee McCue co-hosting the WHCi broadcast of the 22nd Annual Park Road Parade. West Hartford, CT. Oct. 2, 2021. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

The Park Road Association plans to “explore new and different ways to spotlight the Park Road neighborhood and business district” following this final parade.

For more information about the Oct. 5 event, visit the Parade website, parkroadct.com/about-the-parade.

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