SHELBURNE FALLS — The village will host its annual Fourth of July parade and chicken barbecue on Saturday, with parade organizer Steven Finck saying that this year’s parade will be bigger than usual to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Finck said it looks like the weather may be on his side this weekend, though there is still the threat of sporadic thunderstorms. If the weather cooperates, a plethora of classic vehicles will take part in the parade, along with a wagon pulled by oxen, floats from both the Shelburne and Buckland historical societies, someone handing out copies of the Declaration of Independence and “every fire truck in the county,” Finck detailed.
In addition, more children will be riding their bicycles in the parade than in previous years. On Friday, June 26, children were invited to decorate their bikes at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, where the parade will ultimately end. Kids who have decorated their bikes and ride in the parade can receive a one-scoop ice cream cone.
Parade participants will start lining up at 11 a.m. at the old Buckland Highway Garage at 50 Conway St. before the parade kicks off at noon.
Once the parade ends at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary, a classic car show will start at the band shell next to the school at 75 Mechanic St. Meanwhile, at the school, a chicken barbecue will be served by the Shelburne Grange.
Roland Giguere, program director at the Shelburne Grange, said that in the nearly 30 years that he’s been preparing the chicken for the barbecue, he’s realized that people like the consistency, so he hasn’t done much to change his recipe.
“I find it very fun and satisfying,” Giguere said. “All [these] people coming together and doing something they enjoy, I like being part of that.”
That’s not to say Giguere hasn’t learned any tricks in his nearly three decades of barbecuing. He mentioned his son has a culinary degree, and they’ve moved from putting all the racks of chicken on the same layer to layering the racks on top of each other, which he explained helps the chicken retain its moisture and helps the Shelburne Grange go through less charcoal.
The Grange is also prepared to sell more tickets this year than in previous years. Giguere said 220 meals will be sold, as that “seems to be the right number right now.”
Tickets for the meal are $18. In addition to chicken, patrons will receive rolls, baked potatoes, water and coleslaw, which Giguere noted his grandson helps him make.
To reserve tickets for the chicken barbecue, visit shelburnegrange.org/chicken-barbecue-reservations.html.
