The Park Road Parade will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021.

By Ronni Newton

After a pandemic-caused hiatus in 2020, organizers are making plans for the Park Road Parade to return in 2021, and the committee is looking for “hometown hero” nominees to honor during this year’s event.

“[T]his zany, wildly popular, anything-goes parade is back and will be better than ever,” organizers said in a news release asking the community to save the date for the Park Road Parade’s return. The 22nd annual event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In 2019, the last year the Park Road Parade took place, Patti Sheehan Albee, the founder and administrator of the West Hartford Neighbors & Friends Facebook group (and a resident of the Park Road area), was nominated by the community as an unsung hero, and had the opportunity to serve as grand marshal of the parade.

This year’s event will honor hometown heroes in the fields of education, health care, and public safety – those who keep the community “safe and learning during the pandemic.”

Nominees are being sought in the following categories:

• Nurses, doctors, and health care staff
• Police, fire, and EMT professionals and staff
• Teachers and school staff

Names of nominees, along with their affiliation and a few sentences of why they should be honored in this year’s Park Road Parade should be sent to Anthony Landino at [email protected]. Please include your email and phone number.

As in past years, the Park Road Parade will continue to be a unique community parade, showcasing local clubs, organizations, schools, churches, bands, neighborhood groups, sport leagues, clowns, businesses, cool cars, and public officials.

Some parade participants carry simple banners or wear uniform t-shirts, while others dress in elaborate costumes, perform intricate dance numbers, or sit atop elaborate floats. Participants are welcome and click here to sign up.

Each year awards are given to: Best Float, Best Overall Performance, Best Costume, Best Musical Performance, and Best Community Spirit.

The Park Road Parade began in 1998 as a celebration of a two-year road reconstruction and beautification project. It bonded businesses and residents and as it has grown has become known as one of the town’s signature events. As a community event, the Park Road Parade is also completely dependent upon volunteers and sponsors. Without either, the parade would not be possible. Learn more about our sponsorship and volunteer opportunities by visiting the website http://www.parkroadct.com/about-the-parade.

Questions can be directed to Renée McCue at 860-561-7521 or [email protected].

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