March 11, 2021 by Carol Britton Meyer
The Fourth of July Parade Committee is hoping the town's greatly-missed traditional parade will go on this year, contingent on town officials' approval, COVID-19 restrictions that are in place at that time, and the implementation of appropriate safety measures.
The Hingham Lions Club will make a decision by the end of March as to whether to go forward with fireworks this year, according to president Mark Casale. "It would be nice to have them since we haven't had fireworks for the past two years," he told the Hingham Anchor.
The 2019 fireworks were postponed until 2020 due to the inability to sustain the celebration without significant help beyond the Lions’ membership. Last year's fireworks were cancelled due to COVID-19.
At a recent Recreation Commission meeting, the Annual 4th of July Road Race was a topic. "We began the conversation as to what changes we might make in order to offer something this year" after being cancelled in 2020, Chair Vicki Donlan said. "As we all know, the conditions for a 'back to normal' plan aren't in the cards at this time. However, the Rec Commission is determined to be creative and offer something for July 4th."
According to Recreation Department Director Mark Thorell, road races aren't currently allowed under the state's reopening guidance, "but we would like to do something special on the Fourth -- whether a road race [if allowed] or something else that's 'outside the box.' We're not sure at this time in what direction we're heading. Time will tell!" Further details will be available at a later date.
Back to the parade committee, Chair Jim Murphy told the Hingham Anchor that committee members "have been running through different scenarios at our meetings."
One concern is that if other communities cancel their parades and Hingham doesn't, even larger crowds than usual will attend.
Wakefield has already cancelled its parade, according to Murphy, and Braintree -- like Hingham's parade committee -- is taking a wait-and-see approach for now.
"We're aiming for a decision to be made by mid- or late-May," he said.
Some of the top bands that usually participate in the Hingham parade have cancelled their seasons because they have been unable to practice, but some local bands are available if the parade is held.
The goal is to put on a parade on the actual holiday, with health and safety protocols in place. If that's not possible, the committee might look toward the fall -- when things might be different -- but that is not the preference.
The "Heroes Among Us" theme -- which Murphy said has been well-received -- is in recognition of the many frontline workers -- from doctors and nurses and police and fire safety personnel to grocery store employees and bus drivers -- who continue to work long hours for the good of others during the pandemic.
If all goes as hoped, the committee would like to invite frontline workers to march in the parade behind the grand marshal banner to celebrate their efforts and to give spectators an opportunity to cheer them on.
The fifth-grade button design contest is underway. Submissions are due by March 31. Check out the details at: https://www.hinghamanchor.com/heroes-among-us-is-theme-for-this-years-fourth-of-july-parade-fifth-grade-button-contest-underway/
"We'll have 5,500 parade buttons, and we hope many people will make a donation to buy one or more of them to help raise money for the event," Murphy said. "They will be available in early May."
Last year, with the parade cancelled due to COVID-19, button sales were way down. "Of the more than 5,000 buttons we had to sell, we only made $400," Murphy said.
Although the parade committee has enough funds from past years to pay for this year's parade if approved, fundraising remains an important part of the entire effort. The usual tab is about $55,000, but costs would be lower this year without the top bands -- which are paid -- participating.
50 Flags Campaign will be bigger than ever
The 50 Flags Campaign -- the largest fundraiser conducted by the parade committee -- went well last year, despite the fact that the event was not held. "We have 20,000 flags this year -- 4,000 more than last year," Murphy said. "In 2020 we raised $25,000 within a two-week window."
Numerous volunteers, including Hingham High sports teams and clubs and their parents, helped place and take down the flags and were rewarded with a 20 percent donation to their team or group -- $5,000 last year -- and will be doing the same again in 2021.
This year's flags will be installed for the two weeks around the Fourth of July, which falls on a Sunday. The cost is $75 for 50 flags, or $45 for 25 flags, for two weeks. "The 25-flag option was a result of folks asking for a smaller version as some yards can be overwhelmed by 50 flags," Murphy said.
Parade Committee member Tom Hoffman organizes the 50 Flags Campaign, which will start Memorial Day weekend. All ordering will be done through the 50 Flags Campaign link on the town website, hingham-ma.gov -- which will go live May 27.
"Starting Friday, May 28, we'll be installing 386 flags in front of Town Hall, 100 at the Lincoln statue park, and 50 each in front of the Hingham Police station, all three fire stations, and at the veterans' home on Fort Hill Street," Hoffman said.
Last year, whether or not public events could take place was determined by guidelines from the governor's office and decisions by Hingham police and fire safety officials, the Selectmen, and the board of health. "We followed their guidance last year, and we will again this year," Murphy said.
Stay tuned for further updates about the parade, fireworks, and road race.