CHATHAM – It’s the nation’s semiquincentennial, and the town is preparing for a Fourth of July parade like no other.
 With the parade falling on both the nation’s 250th anniversary and a Saturday, massive crowds, perhaps more than the 30,000 officials usually estimate, are expected to line the parade route. Get there early is the word from parade organizers.
 “People should probably expect parking and traffic issues,” said Steve DeBoer, chair of the Independence Day parade committee.
 Some big changes are in store for this year’s parade. It will begin half an hour earlier than usual, at 9 a.m. And for the first time, no vehicles will be allowed to park along Main Street downtown; in the past, vehicles were allowed to park on the north side of the street. Also for the first time, a special viewing area for seniors and those with mobility issues will be available on the front lawn of the public works building on Crowell Road.
 Otherwise, “it’s pretty much the same,” DeBoer said of this year’s parade. “It is a bit larger than last year.” This year’s theme is “Anchored in Freedom: Timeless Tides and Traditions.”
 The parade route begins at the corner of Main Street and Shore Road, follows Main Street and turns down Crowell Road, ending at Lake Street.
 As of early this week, 89 participants had registered to march in the parade. Many are regular participants, including the Chatham Anglers, the Stage Harbor Yacht Club, Mahi Gold and First Night Chatham. After police, fire, Coast Guard, town officials and Grand Marshal John Zippo, a 102-year-old World War II veteran, the first float will be perennial first-place winner the Phillips Farm Family.
 “I can’t remember how many years they’ve won,” DeBoer commented.
 Among the musical acts in the parade will be the Chatham Band, DY Marching Band, J. Place and the Rockers, Digney Fignus, King Fish Band and the Invincible Casuals. Santa Claus himself will be the final entry.
Parade judges were announced Tuesday morning. Occupying the judge’s perch at the corner of Main and Cross streets will be Jennifer Patterson, who suggested the theme for this year’s parade; local photographer, author and filmmaker Kim Roderiques; and Monomoy Regional High School valedictorian Thomas Chase. Laura Barabe will sing the National Anthem.
 DeBoer said the parade committee was able to recruit volunteers this year who will be stationed along the parade route to ensure things keep moving smoothly.
 With everything in place, DeBoer said his only concern is the weather. “That’s the one thing that’s outside of our control,” he said.

 Parking along Main Street will be prohibited as of 2 a.m. July 4. Chairs and other placeholders can be put out beginning at 2:30 a.m.; anything put out before that will be removed. Shore Road, where parade participants line up, will close to traffic except parade participants and local residents as of 7 a.m. Downtown road closures will begin at 7:30 a.m., with Main Street closed from the Crowell Road intersection at 8 a.m.

 Friday, July 3 marks the start of the Chatham Band’s 94th season. Weekly concerts begin at 8 p.m. at Kate Gould Park. Get your blankets and chairs down early as this year’s debut concert promises to be a popular attraction.
 The Chatham Rotary Club pancake breakfast is a Fourth of July tradition for many. Held at the elementary school on Depot Road starting at 7 a.m., the 59th annual breakfast features all-you-can-eat pancakes, including bacon, milk, juice and coffee at the bargain price of $15 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. Kids under 5 are free, and a family of four can eat for $30. The event helps raise money for the Rotary Club’s many charitable works.
 Stick around after the parade for the annual Strawberry Festival at the First United Methodist Church. Beginning at 11 a.m., the festival includes fresh strawberries on homemade shortcake and fresh whipped cream. Hot dogs, sandwiches and beverages are also available. 
 In the evening, the Chatham Anglers play the Orleans Firebirds at 7 p.m. at Veterans Field, the perfect way to end the Independence Day holiday.

Order Entry Name
1 Chatham Police Department
2 Chatham Veterans
3 Chatham Veterans’ Auxiliary
4 U.S. Coast Guard Station Chatham
5 U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla
6 Chatham Fire Department
7 Chatham Town Flag
8 Chatham Select Board
9 The Chatham Band
10 Grand Marshal
11 Phillips Farm Family
12 Chatham Athletic Association – Chatham Anglers Baseball
13 Chatham Elementary School
14 DY Marching Band
15 Robert Carleton
16 Friends of Chatham Waterways
17 Stage Harbor Yacht Club
18 Summer Sitters
19 Life is Good Chatham
20 Monomoy Yacht Club
21 Model A Club of Cape Cod
22 Shore Thing Cape Cod
23 Chatham Yacht Club
24 Chatham Fiddle
25 Sandy Leith
26 The Grateful Mug
27 Witches On the Water
28 Cape Cod Sail and Power Squadron
29 Chatham Marconi Maritime Center / Marconi-RCA Wireless Museum
30 Bob Small
31 OH MY DOG! Adventures
32 The Nines Art Gallery
33 CAMPUS – by Apron Studios LLC
34 John Avery
35 J. Place and the Rockers
36 Chatham Municipal Airport
37 Yankee Ingenuity
38 First Night Chatham
39 Bongiovanni-Patterson Families
40 Chatham Yoga
41 Shore Things Environmental
42 Elwood’s Raw Bars
43 Steve Grande
44 Muto Construction
45 Adam Hogue for County Commissioner
46 Northeast Portable Restrooms
47 Cape Stretch Co.
48 Digney Fingus
49 Cape Cod Wind and Weather, Inc.
50 Barrows Waste Systems, LLC
51 The Fisher Family
52 Chatham Bars Inn
53 John C. Domos Carpentry
54 Boot Camp Chatham
55 Magner Family
56 Hey Joe and Jam
57 Chatham Democratic Town Committee
58 Propr Care LLC
59 The King Fish Band
60 Liam Goley
61 The Chatham Squire
62 Rory Nickerson
63 Rick and Cindy Kienzle
64 Chatham Inn
65 Bob Mahoney
66 HardTop Hotel South Coast and Cape Cod
67 Tyler Macallister for Congress
68 Cape Shark
69 The Hurley Family
70 Pogo Dave
71 Kelley Coulson family
72 Proulx-Lynch Family
73 Cape Cod Beach Chair Company
74 Redemption Rock Church
75 Mahi Gold
76 Gustare Gourmet
77 Chatham Orpheum Theater
78 Michelle Romano, Roman Media Productions
79 Pit Stop Mobile Auto Detailing
80 Bucas Tuscan Roadhouse/Depot Dogs
81 Bask Suncare
82 Albert J Howes, Jr.
83 CRAP COD
84 Chatham Pottery
85 The Young Family
86 eXp Realty LLC
87 Santa
88 The Invincible Casuals
89 That’s all Folks