June 20, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham will celebrate the Fourth of July in a big way again this year, starting off with the Hingham Recreation Road Race and culminating with the traditional parade, which will step out from Hingham High School at 10 a.m. on the dot, rain or shine.
While there will not be any fireworks this year, nor a pancake breakfast on Hingham Centre Common, lots of fun is in store, including family and neighborhood get-togethers.
Thousands of spectators line the parade route from Hingham Centre to the downtown area each year, many of them dressed in red, white, and blue, wearing parade buttons, and waving flags.
Hingham's is one of the largest parades in Massachusetts. Many people who grew up or lived here at one time but have moved away return to town year after year to enjoy this hometown event and to celebrate with family and friends.
This year's parade -- with the theme "Together for the 4th!" -- will feature Grand Marshal Warren Pelissier, colorful floats, marching bands, the Seventh Regiment from Connecticut, Clydesdale horses from Duxbury, the National Lancers -- the Commonwealth’s ceremonial cavalry squadron and a unit in the Massachusetts Organized Militia -- drum and bugle corps, and much more, along with everyone's favorite -- Uncle Sam!
This will be lifetime Hingham resident George Ford's 16th year marching as Uncle Sam.
"I love doing it," he told the Hingham Anchor. "It's the highlight of my year, and I certainly hope folks will continue to enjoy Uncle Sam's presence in the parade."
In that role, he's responsible for booking all the parade performers. "We have a very robust group this year," Ford explained. "The beauty of Hingham's parade is its tradition. It doesn't change much from year to year except for some of the performers. It's an event that everyone can count on, which is a nice thing in this day and age."
The parade committee is made up of "a dedicated group of people from the community, and Chair Jim Murphy is extraordinary in his attention to detail," Ford said.
Uncle Sam is hoping for the usual fine weather that has marked the day of the parade at least since he has marched as Uncle Sam.
The event is funded through the 50 Flags Campaign, donations, sponsorships, and registration fees. No tax dollars are used to pay for the parade.
Proceeds from the sale of parade buttons by Hingham businesses and at other locations around town also help defray the costs associated with putting on such a spectacular event. The Hingham Rotary Club plays a key role in selling the buttons, both before the event and along the parade route.
The 2023 parade button design winner is William Donovan, a Plymouth River School student.
The parade will march rain or shine, but in case of a storm, the Hingham Police Department may call it off. There is no rain date.
With regard to the pancake breakfast, Lions Club President Mark Casale told the Hingham Anchor that after the Kiwanis Club ran the event for decades, the Lions joined the group in recent years due to a lack of manpower. "We did it together. It was a nice small-town family event, but it's a lot of work and the costs have gone up -- which meant we weren't raising enough funds to benefit our community projects," he said. "We also needed more volunteers beyond Kiwanis and Lions Club members and their families, who also helped put on the breakfasts."
For full road race, 50 flags campaign, grand marshal, button contest, and parade details, go to https://www.hingham-ma.gov/678/Fourth-of-July.
For information about the cancellation of fireworks this year and future plans, visit https://www.hinghamanchor.com/fireworks-wont-light-up-the-sky-in-2023-plans-underway-to-raise-funds-for-future-celebrations/.