“Remembering North Beach, Monomoy” is the title of this float at the 2015 Chatham Fourth of July Independence Day Parade.
CHATHAM – There were lots of boats, and plastic sharks.
A pilgrim chased after a turkey. A gorilla chased after a banana. And a hotdog danced down the street.
There was a replica North Beach cottage and a giant beach chair.
There were scores of young people: beginning with students from Monomoy Regional High School, the crew from “Damn Yankees” at the Monomoy Theater, Boston College alumni and, of course, “the boys of summer,” the Chatham A’s. Lots more youth with the Sacred Surf School, the Chris Fitz Band, Mahi Gold (which is a clothing store in Chatham) and Chatham Squire (which is, arguably, the most famous bar on Cape Cod).
There were sequined dancing girls on a candy cane float and a candy cane-striped car complete with rocket launchers in the back. That was apparently Pogo Dave, who is also responsible for the gorilla and the bananas.
The Chatham Retired Men’s Association reminded us they are “Distinct But Not Extinct,” a reference to the parade’s theme, “Distinctly Chatham.”
And there was music, so much music—from fiddlers, to Dixieland, to bagpipes, and a marching band, plus roots, folk and blues. The Chandler Travis Philharmonic seemed to have two dozen members, most dressed in colorful pajamas.
There were fishermen and a giant seagull. But not as many fish as you might want. Just like life.
A few people were wearing red, white and blue.
It was the Chatham Fourth of July Independence Day Parade and it was sublime.
If you don’t believe us, see for yourself.
– Laura M. Reckford
