Some of the many participants at Pittsfield’s Independence Day Parade on Tuesday, July 4. Thousands of people watched the many community groups, veterans, companies, and participants both young and old, march down the parade route, which dates back to 1801. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.

Pittsfield goes all out in celebrating Independence Day

"The reason why we have so many people here is because people take pride in their city," said President and COO of MountainOne Jonathan Denmark before the event. "There has always been a sense of pride and celebration every year on Independence Day. People love to come out and get together for their community."

Pittsfield — Many hours before the city’s Independence Day Parade on Tuesday, July 4, residents were reserving spaces along the parade route by placing their chairs along the street, even despite the forecasted rain. The rain stayed away long enough, however, for thousands of people to witness the city’s traditional parade, which dates back to 1801.

The parade itself, which is organized by the Pittsfield Parade Committee Inc., lasted for nearly two hours and went through a good portion of the downtown area, starting at Housatonic Street and proceeding through South Street, Park Square, North Street, Wahconah Street, before finally ending at Wahconah Park.

Members of the Pittsfield Parade Committee Inc. towards the end of the annual Independence Day Parade on Tuesday, July 4. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

The list of participating groups, companies, and organizations that took part in the parade seemed to be endless. The city’s police and fire departments, along with its school bus department, participated in the event, as well as nearby fire departments in Cheshire, Adams, and Lenox.

Members of the Lenox Dale Company with their vintage fire truck in Pittsfield’s Independence Day Parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Pittsfield Fire Department marching in the parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Pittsfield Police Department’s honor guard, which started the Independence Day parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Cheshire Fire Department in their antique fire truck. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
A young child greets parade watchers from Pittsfield Fire Department’s Engine One. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of Pittsfield’s School Bus Department with their float right before the parade started. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

There were also plenty of participating marching bands and musicians playing from floats, including the Pittsfield High School Band, The Greater Kensington String Band, and other various musicians who played music to the audience along the parade route.

Members of the Pittsfield High School Band. Photo by Shaw Israel Izkson.
Members of The Greater Kensington String Band (AKA The Mummers) from Philadelphia, Penn. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The Lee Bank float featured musicians playing rock and roll. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Samba Novo Band from Brooklyn, N.Y. playing on the EMS Automotive float. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The Moodus Drum and Fire band from Moodus, Conn. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

Local and state celebrities took part in the parade, including this year’s Miss Massachusetts, Chelsea Vuong, and American Idol 2015 semi-finalist Katherine Winston.

Miss Massachusetts Chelsea Vuong. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
American Idol 2015 semi-finalist Katherine Winston. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

Local community organizations that took part in the event included the Norman Rockwell Museum, Berkshire Cars and Coffee, the Parkside National Little League Team, the Laborers International Union Local #473, and the American Red Cross.

Norman Rockwell Museum’s float. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The Parkside National Little League Team. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The Berskhire County Cars N’ Cofee float. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of The American Red Cross. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of The Laborers International Union Local #473. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The Pittsfield Irish Sister City Committee float. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
The Knights of Columbus float. Photo by Shaw Israel Izkson.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Berkshires. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of 413 Cheer. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

Local companies that took part in the event included MountainOne, The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, General Dynamics, and Premium Waters Inc.

Employees of MountainOne. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank with their Oscar the Grouch Balloon. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank with their Oscar the Grouch Balloon. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of General Dynamics with their float, created to look like the warship USS Columbia. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of General Dynamics with their float, created to look like the warship USS Columbia. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of General Dynamics with their float, created to look like the warship USS Columbia. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of Premium Waters Inc. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of Carr Hardware with their firecracker balloons. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of Unico marching with their Cheshire Cat balloon. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees of Unistress with an emoji balloon. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Employees from Adams Bank holding a patriotic-themed balloon. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

But the real stars of the parade were the veterans and veteran organizations who participated in it, including the James E Callahan Berkshire County Chapter #65 of the Vietnam Veterans of America; the 2022 Pittsfield Veteran of the Year Robert Garrity; Marine Corps League Detachment #137; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 448; American Legion Post #68; the Dalton American Legion Post 155; Ghent Veterans of Foreign War Post #5933; Vietnam War veteran Mike Ancora of the Marine Corps; and World War II veteran Donald Seckler of the Marine Corps, who, at 99 years old, was the oldest participant in the parade.

Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Berkshire Chapter #65. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Benjamin F. Sullivan Post #155 American Legion of Dalton. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Benjamin F. Sullivan Post #155 American Legion of Dalton. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 448 Honor Guard’s truck carrying the Iraq Afghanistan War Memorial. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of American Legion Post #68 from Pittsfield. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of American Legion Post #68 from Pittsfield. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Pittsfield Veteran of the Year Robert Garrity. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
World War II veteran Donald Seckler of the Marine Corps, who, at 99 years old, was the oldest participant in the parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Vietnam War veteran Mike Ancora of the Marine Corps and World War II veteran Donald Seckler of the Marine Corps just before the Independence Day Parade. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

“The reason why we have so many people here is because people take pride in their city,” said President and COO of MountainOne Jonathan Denmark before the event. “There has always been a sense of pride and celebration every year on Independence Day. People love to come out and get together for their community. The parade really has a cross section of people throughout the community. You’ve got children, seniors, veterans, sports teams, singers, and musicians. It’s the best of our community all in one parade.”

“This parade has decades of tradition and history for the community,” Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Vice President of Branch Administration Dana Robb said. “Pittsfield’s parade has such a long history, and this city is starting to come back and is on the rise again. This parade is an example of that.”

Members of the Berkshire Shrine Club. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.
Members of the Berkshire Shrine Club. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.