July 3, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti and Gordon Miller

*Fireworks are set off on Sunday night, June 30, a day later than planned due to Saturday’s rain. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Despite soggy weather, Waterbury’s Not Quite Independence Day celebration attracted a hardy crowd that cheered on dozens of runners, took in the parade down Main Street, and gathered for an afternoon concert in the park on Saturday.

The Waterbury Rotary Club starts planning for “NQID” (as it’s known for short) months in advance and is prepared for whatever the weather conditions may be on the big day.

For the second year in a row, the fireworks show finale to the celebration was postponed to Sunday evening when conditions were drier. The display attracted a crowd near the State Office Complex and around the downtown with fireworks being launched from the field between the state offices and the Winooski River.

*The fireworks are launched from the open field along the Community Path near the Winooski River. Photos by Gordon Miller*
***Click the images below to enlarge.***

On Saturday, 87 runners of all ages took part in the Green Mountain Mile footrace that started off the festivities. See the race results and photos in a separate post in Sports here.

*Showers didn’t dampen spirits for Jess and Brian Robinson running the Green Mountain Mile foot race before NQID. They finished 62nd and 63rd. Photo by Gordon Miller (See more photos and* ***full race results in Sports***.)

The theme for the parade was “Celebration of Sports” and many of the parade entries created displays with their unique take on that idea.

Dan McKibben on the Rotary Club’s NQID organizing team said there was a record number of parade entries this year although some decided against participating at the last minute given the conditions. The Waterbury Community Band and the folks at Zenbarn, for example held off given their groups came with instruments and electronics.

Accustomed to performing outdoors in Vermont conditions year-round, members of the Burlington street band Sambatucada donned their rain gear and didn’t miss a beat. The band is a staple in Waterbury’s River of Light lantern parade in December, too.

Grand Marshal for the parade was Dave Morse, owner of Dave’s Community Fitness. He rode at the head of the parade in a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda owned and driven by Chris Barbieri of Worcester. Rotarian John Malter noted that Barbieri and his wife Laurel “have graciously been our Grand Marshal chauffeur and copilot for the past few seasons at NQID.” Barbieri is a longtime member of the Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts and is an organizer of the annual Vermont Antique and Classic Car meet at Farr's Field, this year scheduled for Aug. 9-11.

*Fireworks behind the State Office Complex, June 30. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti*

Also at the lead were the Waterbury Fire Department and the Waterbury American Legion Post 59’s color and honor guard members who marched along firing off blasts every few blocks.

Held on the last Saturday ahead of Independence Day, Waterbury’s celebration and parade in an election year often attracts many local and statewide candidates. This year was no exception – they took part mostly in rain jackets, too.

Many candidates walked alongside supporters carrying signs and banners. Some zig-zagged along the parade route shaking hands with spectators lining the sidewalks. Familiar faces included Vermont’s Democratic Congresswoman Rep. Becca Balint and Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, P-D. A vegetable farmer in Hinesburg, Zuckerman along with his volunteers handed out raw carrots to parade-watchers.

Zuckerman’s primary challenger Thomas Renner also shook hands with onlookers as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Esther Charlestin carried her large blue banner alongside supporters. A frequent NQID parade participant, Republican Gov. Phil Scott was absent this year. The only other statewide office holder spotted was Democratic state Treasurer Mike Pieciak who took his time shaking hands with spectators.

Washington County Democrats and Republicans each had multiple candidates behind their banners. Barre Republican state Senate candidate Donald Koch held his campaign sign and waved from a parade float. Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Gerald Malloy – running for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ seat – steered a pickup with a campaign sign. And with rain hoods up, supporters of John Rodgers, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, carried his banner along the route.

Local Democratic legislators running for re-election included Sens. Ann Cummings and Anne Watson, both from Montpelier. Democratic state Rep. Tom Stevens waved to the hometown crowd carrying his sign. Nearby first-time Waterbury state House candidate Elizabeth Brown walked alongside volunteers carrying a large banner and more than a dozen adults and youngsters in matching campaign t-shirts. Waterbury’s other state representative, longtime Rotarian Theresa Wood, wasn’t in the parade but watching it. Her volunteer role was at the review stand overseeing the parade award judging.

Other entries included the usual collection of firetrucks from Waterbury and neighboring communities including Bolton, Middlesex and Moretown as well as vehicles from Waterbury Ambulance Service. The Shriners in their go-cart buggies worked the crowd keeping their tricks in check given the slippery conditions.

Some of the most enthusiastic sports-themed entries came from youth-focused groups including MakerSphere, Green Mountain Performing Arts, the Ice Center, Central Vermont Gymnastics Academy and True Value Hardware with kids in various sports gear saluting their coaches.

Parade awards

Best Overall

Best Use of Theme

Best Kids entry

Most Patriotic

Most Funny

Best Antique Vehicle

Following the parade, Rusty Parker Park was the gathering spot for games, food and live music by the Tim Brick Band. Parade prize winners were announced there as well. The awards and recipients pictured above (click to enlarge photos) were:

Best Overall entry – Acer Tree Service
Best Use of Theme – MakerSphere
Best Kids entry – Green Mountain Performing Arts
Most Patriotic – American Legion
Most Funny –Waterbury Ice Center’s Zamboni
Best Antique Vehicle – “Sir Ron II” antique boat

Winning entry Acer entered tree-trimming as its sport. They had a crew on a sizable chunk of a tree mounted on its float. MakerSphere’s entry was made by youngsters enrolled in last week’s camp where they made all the elements of their float that used a large pickup truck and a trailer. It had a giant trophy cup and medal podiums, and it carried the message “Sportsmanship is #1.”

Ignoring the rain, about two dozen Green Mountain Performing Arts dancers clapped and danced their way down Main Street to Taylor Swift’s tune “Shake it Off” and earned an award.

The Ice Center crew’s float celebrated skating and hockey of course. In the center a little stuffed dog on a Zamboni was a crowd-pleaser mascot.

This year’s antique boat entries caught the eye of the judges with the “Sir Ron II” getting a nod. The 1961 18-foot E Class Hydroplane, Ted Jones design, is all-wood construction, powered by a modified Chevy V-8 308 capable of speeds over 100 m.p.h. Its owner/operator is Don Swain of Warren.

The other classic wooden boat in the parade was the “Jitterbug,” a 1959 17-foot Chris Craft Deluxe Utility Runabout made from mahogany with a GMC 283 V8 8cyl-185HP engine that can run approximately 40 mph on the water, according to Rotary sources. Originally manufactured in Michigan, it was purchased in South Carolina in 2009 by its current owner, Rich Butler of Duxbury, who restored it to its current condition and pulled it in the parade. The two watercraft represented the Lake Champlain Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society which holds its annual Boat Show at the Burlington Boathouse on July 27.

Postscript from Waterbury Rotary

Despite the rainy conditions, Waterbury Rotary members called the weekend a success with a strong community turnout for Saturday’s events and Sunday’s fireworks.

*Waterbury Rotarian Jim Myers hands out balls to children along the parade route. Photo by Gordon Miller*

“From the running race, through the parade, concert, and fireworks people from around the Waterbury area came out to have a good time regardless of the weather,” McKibben said. “The children's activities, food, and drinks at Rusty Parker Park were enjoyed by many. The concert by the Tim Brick Band was lively, and the fireworks show was amazing again this year.”

McKibben thanks everyone who participated and supported NQID. “Many individuals and groups across our communities came together to make it happen,” he said. “The planning for NQID starts early in the year, and it takes the same amount of effort to plan for spectacular weather as for a rainy day—maybe more work for a rainy day due to the all the last-minute adjustments. We welcome anyone who would like to help plan and contribute to the fun for next year. Please reach out to the Rotary Club if you're interested in helping with next year's NQID.”