Pittsfield celebrates Fourth of July with annual parade
The over-two-hour parade went through the downtown area, starting at Housatonic Street and proceeding through South Street, Park Square, North Street, Wahconah Street, before finally ending at Wahconah Park.
The Rosie the Riveter float from the Albany Berkshire Ballet in Pittsfield’s Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4. On the float, “Rosie” was portrayed by Riley Hess and Margaret Hall. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Pittsfield — Thousands of people all lined up to watch this year’s Fourth of July Parade on Thursday. The parade was organized by the Pittsfield Parade Committee, a 501(c)(3) independent nonprofit organization formed back in the late 1970s to organize the city’s annual parade.
The over-two-hour parade went through the downtown area, starting at Housatonic Street and proceeding through South Street, Park Square, North Street, Wahconah Street, before finally ending at Wahconah Park.
Just some of the thousands attendees who lined up to watch this year’s Fourth of July Parade in Pittsfield on Thursday, July 4. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.United States Marine Corps veterans Don Seckler and Mike Ancora. Seckler is a World War II veteran who served in Okinawa, Japan, while Ancora served in Japan in the 1960s. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Veteran organizations and their members were a prominent part of the annual parade.
Members of the Benjamin F. Sullivan Post No. 155 American Legion of Dalton. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Lt. John N. Truden Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 448. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Berkshire Chapter 65. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.A member of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts hands out American flags to young parade attendees. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The event also included members of various local organizations and businesses.
Members of Elks Lodge #272 just before the parade started. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Pittsfield bus drivers posing in front of their float “Hooray for the U.S.A.” Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Oldies But Goodies Rock and Roll Show on their float. The all-volunteer group, which raises money for nonprofit organizations, danced around on a float reminiscent of an old-time diner. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Matt Walsh portraying Israel Bissell on the float of the Hinsdale Dayz Committee. Photo By Shaw Israel Izikson.Employees and their families on the Berkshire Health Systems float. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Erik Stein, promoting the Berkshire Theatre Group’s ongoing production of “Abe Lincoln in Illinois.” Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Employees and families of Berkshire County Arc and their float. The organization is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.The Pittsfield Fire Department was one of the many emergency departments that took part in this year’s parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Cheshire Fire Department and their families riding in their antique fire truck. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of African Francophone of the Berkshires Inc. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Marchers with the Irish American Club of Berkshire County. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Festival Latino members dancing in the streets of Pittsfield. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Greater Kensington String Band of Philadelphia, Penn. performing live in Pittsfield’s Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.The Adamsville Ancients marching band from Delmar, N.Y. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of Alert No. 1 from Adams. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Members of the Berkshire Shrine Club showing off for parade attendees in their minicars. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Several local personalities also took part in the parade, including Berkshire County Irish American of the year Bill Sturgeon. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center Youth of the Year Karyssa Daniels. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Miss Massachusetts 2024 Kiersten Khoury. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli and State Sen. Paul Mark. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.“Dumbo” made an appearance during the parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
“We’ve always said that we will do this as long as the community wants us to do this,” Berkshire Busk! General Manager Carli Scolforo told The Edge. “When I see people meeting up with their friends or children coming and dancing every single weekend, it makes me feel like we’re doing something important here."
“Hevreh has connected a sense of community where everyone feels connected,” Hevreh Senior Rabbi Jodie Gordon told The Berkshire Edge. “This is not a place where you go do Jewish activities and then you leave. We are all connected, both in people’s homes and out in the world."
“We have a constitutional right to speak up and speak out,” Pittsfield rally co-organizer Robin O’Herin told The Berkshire Edge. “He is stealing our government and turning it into an autocracy and a dictatorship”
