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Willimantic Celebrates 30th Year of Its Boom Box Parade

Connecticut Public Radio | By Rob Dozier
Published July 2, 2015 at 2:30 PM EDT
WILI Boom Box Parade
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Radio personality Wayne Norman serves as the grand marshal every year for Willimantic's "boom Box" Parade.
The parade is known for its independent spirit.

Willimantic's unique Independence Day "Boom Box" parade is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

More than 5,000 participants and spectators are expected on Main Street on Saturday, carrying radios tuned to WILI-AM, which will provide the marching music.

The idea for the parade came in 1986 when organizers of a Memorial Day parade could not find a marching band and asked the local radio station to help. The station, needing some planning time, agreed instead to provide music for city's Independence Day parade. 

Radio personality Wayne Norman serves as the grand marshal each year.

The parade is known for its independent spirit. Norman said anyone can show up and march.

Participants are just asked to wear some red, white, and blue, and bring a radio.

This report includes information from The Associated Press. Rob Dozier is a WNPR intern.

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

Donate