The pomp and percussion of parade day

The bands often provide the drumbeat and the rhythm of July 4 in Bristol

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA

Ever since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and its after-effects rerouted our lifestyle, it’s become increasingly difficult to return to full normalcy, and that includes the Bristol Fourth of July Celebration.

In a recent interview with Fourth of July Band/Drum Corps chairman Alan Palumbo, getting the number of usual entries to perform in the big parade on the Fourth of July has been a real challenge.

“So far, we have 12 bands lined up to march in this year’s parade,” said Mr. Palumbo, whose ties with marching bands and drum corps go back a number of years. “It’s not like the old days, that’s for sure.”

With the discontinuation of the popular Bristol Summer Music Preview Drum & Bugle Corps Competition at Mt. Hope High School’s Dietz Field some years ago, plus the fact that many other bands bowed out for various reasons, getting more musical units back into the 2.5-mile Fourth of July Parade has become difficult.

“We’re still hoping to get another musical unit or two into this year’s parade,” Mr. Palumbo said. “We’re giving it our best effort.”

Heading the list of the 2023 Fourth of July Parade musical lineup are the Mt. Hope High School Marching Band, the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Portuguese Independent Band, the Bristol County Fifes and Drums, the Kentish Guard Fife and Drum of Warwick, the South Philadelphia String Band, the Norris High School Marching Band of Lincoln, Neb., the Bridgewater High School

Marching Band of Bridgewater, Mass., and the Joseph A. Case High School Band from Swansea, Mass.

Also, the Saint Edmunds Fifes and Drums of Groton, Conn., the Hitmen Brass Band of Utica, N.Y., and the Animadores Do Divino Band of Lagoa, Portugal, Bristol’s “sister city” in the Azores.

“This musical band from Portugal is going to be a real treat for everyone coming to this year’s parade,” said Mr. Palumbo. “This became possible through the efforts of John and Tricia Ferreira of Rehoboth.”

Two drum corps will also be featured in this year’s parade, including the world renowned Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pa., and the Saints Brigade Drum & Bugle Corps of Port Chester, N.Y.

“Like always, we’ll keep working hard to make our parade the best that it can be,” promised Mr. Palumbo.