A Change in Direction for Waterford’s Annual Parade

Who doesn’t love a parade? With fire engines and floats, and drill teams and dancers, it’s as much fun to watch one as it is to march in it--and this year’s Waterford Week Parade promises to be a good one.

The parade is scheduled to step off smartly at 1 p.m. from Waterford High School and will end at Henny Penny on Great Neck Road. That’s a change in direction from previous years but as the goal is to end up at Waterford Beach Park for a lineup and judging of the best entries, Parade Committee Chairman Michael Smith says, it made sense to have everyone pointing in the right direction.

That’s not the only reason the committee decided to change the route, though. To ensure the safety of both spectators and participants, roads along the parade route have to be closed to through traffic starting at 12:30 p.m. and to residents beginning at 12:50 p.m. Smith says the committee decided to alter the parade’s direction in hopes of minimizing the disruption to traffic in and around the affected neighborhoods.

“This way we can do the line up out of the neighborhoods, so that should cut down on a lot of complaints,” says Smith. “The roads will be open until just about when the parade starts now.”    

For the first time in many years, the Parade Marshall will be judging entries and awarding prizes for the best on parade. Smith says organizers decided to add the element of competition because, “We wanted to make it a little bit bigger and get more people here.” As about 60 groups have signed up to participate this year, many of them newcomers, it’s a strategy that seems to be working.

There might be a fewer vets than usual, Smith says, because a VJ Day parade is being held elsewhere in the state today, but the Navy’s Silver Dolphins Drill Team will marching. There’ll be fire engines, mini-cars, motorcycles, and a lot of youth groups too.

Smith encourages everyone to come out and cheer for the state champion Waterford Little League 9-10 All-Stars and for the Shoreline Roller Derby girls, and to greet old friends from Waterford High School classes of 1980 to 1990--who are in town for a reunion this weekend and who have also signed up to march in the parade.

Although today’s weather forecast wasn’t promising, Smith is keeping his fingers’ crossed. “If there’s heavy rain, we’ll cancel but if not, we’re going to try and sneak it in there,” he says.

If you’re heading down to Waterford Beach or live in the vicinity, plan accordingly because Rope Ferry Road, from Route 1 to Great Neck Road, Rope Ferry Commons, Great Neck Road from Route 156 to Colonial Drive, Jordan Terrace, and Governor’s Landing will be closed to through traffic from 12:30 p.m. until about 2:30 p.m.