Warren July 4 Parade

July 15, 2022 | By Lisa Scagliotti 

Warren's Fourth of July parade attracted thousands to the quaint Mad River Valley Main Street on Monday. True to tradition, entries celebrated local libraries, supported pollinators, saluted Jerry Garcia, and even displayed the friendly local rivalry between Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas.

But the most creative and passionate messaging and float-building was reserved for political commentary skewering recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, particularly its June 24 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

Mad River TV recorded the event. And parade organizers posted honors on their Facebook page:

Grand Marshalls: Win Smith and Maggie Smith

Best on Theme: Prickly Mountain Crew

Best in Show: Liberty Valley w/ Sickie the Moretown

Best Dance Routine: Librarians of the Mad River Valley & Beyond

Best Political Promotional: Joe Benning

Best Community Promotional: Mad River Rotary

Best Commercial: Vee’s Flowers

Most Team Spirit: Sugarbush

Most Political: The Uterus Crew

Most Patriotic: Asa MacDonald

Most Environmental: Warren Village & Sellers Family

Most Cooperative Coops: Mad River Glen & Cabot

Best Kids: Sculpture School

Most Inclusive: Freedom to Be Me (LGBTQ)

Most Elegant: Chris Butch

Covid Success: AJ Recycling

Most Philanthropic: Free Wheelin’

Best Antique Farm Vehicle: The Keiths’ tractors

Best Antique Cars: Appletons, Wares & Steinman/Rodgers

Best Motor Bike: Free Range Rippers

Best eBike: FlatLander Express

Best 1 Person Float: Funky Yeti

Best Hair Doo: Buddy the Alpaca

Best 4 Footed Participant: Green Mountain Dog Camp

Most Community Oriented: Mind the Gap (Roxbury that is)

Most Liberty: Valley Dems

Best Newcomer: Fluffy (Beta Technologies)

Best Family: Wayfarer Farm

Best in Communication: Mad River Television

Most Optimistic: Superintendent Dr. Mike Leichliter

Most Musical: Mad River Light & Sound w/ Bifler

Funniest: Yestermorrow

Smallest Float: Rocking 80s Girls

Best Wave: Mckayla Kingsbury as Miss Liberty

Most Opportunistic: Liberty Queens

Best Bribe: Zen Barn

Best Sneak Entry: Birthday Boy Tiger Baird

Welcome Back: Hap’s Garage

Just Because: Doug Ricketts

People’s Favorite: Mind the Gap

Best Dancing: Funky Yeti

Photos by Lisa Scagliotti

The Town Hall sign is a regular feature on parade day.

The Mad River Valley entry riffs on the “better here” slogan.

The Sugarbush float tosses “snowballs” to the crowd.

A handful of politicians join the procession including state Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, a GOP candidate for lieutenant governor.

The crowd cheers for the popular community libraries entry with choreographed library carts.

Beta Technologies, the manufacturer of electric-powered aircraft in South Burlington, brought its plane-in-the-clouds themed float.

Waterbury’s ZenBarn entry has a dead band and a live band and a larger-than-life Jerry Garcia.

Waterbury Ambulance Service take a lap.

Waitsfield Fire Department represented.

Harwood Unified Union School District’s new Superintendent Mike Leichliter (white shirt) marches with his wife Mary Edith (left), local students, and Warren School Board reps Jonathan Young and Ashley Woods.