The Park Road Association will celebrate ‘Park Road Parade Days’ this year, culminating with the annual parade on Oct. 7.

Courtesy photo

Submitted

The Park Road Association is proud to announce “Park Road Parade Days,” an exciting week of events leading up to West Hartford’s annual parade on Oct. 7.

Courtesy photo

In celebration of the 19th annual parade, a special 19 percent off discount card is available for a $20 donation that will help defray the costs of the parade. The card may be used at 15 participating restaurants, stores and businesses on Park Road from Monday, Oct. 2 through Saturday, Oct. 7. From discounts on meals to a tank fill-up of gas, from children’s clothing to a deluxe cheeseburger, the complete list of participating businesses on where you can use the discount card are found on the website www.parkroadct.com/parade-days.

The card is available for purchase at Effie’s Restaurant at 91 Park Rd., Playhouse on Park at 244 Park Rd., and Zest 280 Eatery, 280 Park Rd. Get yours today and support the Park Road Parade!

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Zest 280, 280 Park Rd., will host the Parade Volunteer Meeting from 5:45-6:45 p.m. Those who volunteer say it is the most fun they have had in a long time! Owner Kim Yarum is hosting the event with light bites. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Rita Soovajian at 860-522-6696 or Tony Landino at (860) 966-4582.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m., join us at Park & Oak Restaurant, 14 Oakwood Ave., for Happy Hour in celebration of the upcoming Park Road Parade. Owner/Chef David Borselle, Jr. is expanding the regular happy hour and is generously donating a percentage of the proceeds to the parade. Choose from a variety of menu and beverage items for only $4-$6. You can nosh on pork tacos, an Angus Cheeseburger, or Spicy Poutine with Roasted BBQ Pork while sipping on a specialty cocktail or craft beer or wine. To view the full Happy Hour menu visit http://parkandoakrestaurant.com/happy-hour/. Stop by and support the Park Road Parade.

During the month of October, bring your cans and bottles to ShopRite of West Hartford, 46 Kane St., for recycling and donate the nickel refund to the Park Road Parade. Simply bring your slip to the cashier and say “I would like to donate this to the Park Road Parade”! At the end of the month, ShopRite will present a check to the Park Road Association representing a grand total of all the bottle returns donated by store patrons. We thank you in advance for your thoughtfulness!

Tracy Flater and John Paindiris. Courtesy photo

And finally, the main event, the 19th Annual Park Road Parade will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Every year more than 7,500 spectators line the parade route to watch over 90 participating groups march down the road. A true celebration of West Hartford and beyond, the parade features bands, clowns, dancers, floats, dogs of all shapes and sizes, antique cars, color guards, businesses, civic and cultural organizations and town officials.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Heidi Voight, morning anchor at NBC Connecticut Today.

“Heidi is a West Hartford resident who loves the Park Road community, which is exactly why we selected her as the 2017 Grand Marshal,” said Tracy Flater, co-president of the Park Road Association. “She brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does!”

For all parade details, go to ParkRoadCT.com/about-the-parade. In the event of heavy rain, the parade will be canceled and not rescheduled. Information will posted on the website.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @ParkRoadCT and Twitter @ParkRoad_WeHa. Post your pictures and comments with these hashtags: #ParkRoadParade, #ParkRoadCT, #ParkRoadCTParade, #ParkRoad.

See you at the parade!