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Connecticut town’s Boom Box Parade celebrates 30th year

In this July 4, 2014 photo, members of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in Norwich entertain the wet spectators at the WILI Boom Box Parade in Willimantic, Conn. Willimantic’s annual Independence Day parade once again will include the traditional Little League teams, floats sponsored by local businesses, fire trucks, and politicians. But, for the 30th consecutive year, there will be no marching bands. (Daniel Owen/The Hartford Courant via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this July 4, 2014 photo, members of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in Norwich entertain the wet spectators at the WILI Boom Box Parade in Willimantic, Conn. Willimantic’s annual Independence Day parade once again will include the traditional Little League teams, floats sponsored by local businesses, fire trucks, and politicians. But, for the 30th consecutive year, there will be no marching bands. (Daniel Owen/The Hartford Courant via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT In this July 4, 2014 photo, members of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in Norwich entertain the wet spectators at the WILI Boom Box Parade in Willimantic, Conn. Willimantic’s annual Independence Day parade once again will include the traditional Little League teams, floats sponsored by local businesses, fire trucks, and politicians. But, for the 30th consecutive year, there will be no marching bands. (Daniel Owen/The Hartford Courant via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press 3 min read

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. (AP) – Willimantic’s annual Independence Day parade once again will include the traditional Little League teams, floats sponsored by local businesses, fire trucks, and politicians. But, for the 30th consecutive year, there will be no marching bands.

In what has become an offbeat tradition, the participants and the spectators will instead be carrying radios all tuned to the same local station, which will provide traditional marching music.

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the town’s annual “Boom Box Parade,” which kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday.

“I didn’t think the idea would work,” said Wayne Norman, the WILI-AM radio personality who has served as grand marshal for all 30 parades. “I didn’t think people would get the concept. Boy was I wrong.”

The parade dates to 1986, when the town could not find an available marching band for its annual Memorial Day parade. Organizer Kathy Clark approached the radio station for help. Station officials said it was too late to organize and publicize for that holiday, but began planning with Clark for July Fourth and the tradition was born.