Coronavirus Can't Touch America's Oldest July 4 Celebration

BRISTOL, RI — The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of hundreds of events in Rhode Island since March, from weddings to St. Patrick's Day celebrations to simple family gatherings. Even as the state reopens and cases decline, communities across the state have canceled July 4 celebrations and fireworks over concerns of a spike. But for the oldest Independence Day celebration of the country, even a pandemic can't stop the festivities.

The town of Bristol, Rhode Island has earned its title of "America's most patriotic town." First settled in 1680, a century before the United States of America was conceived. During the Revolutionary War, the town was twice attacked by the British, once in 1775 and again in 1778, burning and shelling the settlement. It also served as one of the five state capitals in Rhode Island until 1854.

According to the town's official history, the first mention of the annual Fourth of July festivities came just one year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, in 1777, when a British solider reported hearing a celebration across Narragansett Bay. The event officially began in 1785, with the first Patriotic Exercises.

Each year since then, the town has celebrated the Fourth of July in high style, growing to a weeks-long celebration that kicks off on Flag Day, June 14, featuring outdoor concerts, a ball, derby races and more. The centerpiece is always the parade, which travels along the town's main street. Thousands of attendees flock to the town, lining the narrow streets to take part in the festivities.

Cut to 2020. After months of staying home, wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Rhode Island is now in phase three of reopening. While many businesses and restaurants have reopened, large-scale events are still capped at 250 people or fewer, making the traditional parade impossible.

Undeterred, the parade's organizers refused to give up that easily, announcing in April that the show would go on, though it would be scaled-down from years past.

"The Bristol Fourth of July Committee prides itself as having the longest continuous celebration in the nation," Committee Chair Michele Martins said at the time. "There have been times over its 235-year history when the celebration has had to be modified. However, the Patriotic Exercises have always taken place. We are now facing a time of uncertainty and must make the best plan possible with the flexibility of changes as needed."

This year's parade will be vehicle-based, which has become a hallmark of celebrations during the pandemic. To celebrate special occasions while maintaining safe social distancing, people have taken to the streets for birthdays, graduations and more, cars festooned with balloons and streamers and horns honking.

That will be the case in Bristol on Saturday. The vehicle procession will roll out at 8:30 a.m. from the corner of Chestnut Street and Hope Street, ending on High Street, between State Street and Bradford Street and lasting about 45 minutes in total.

The public had mixed reactions to the scaled-down parade.

"Although disappointed I am proud of the Fourth of July committee for doing what they could given the circumstances," Hollie Silva said.

Another said, given the circumstances, the parade shouldn't have been held at all.

"They could have and should have just skipped the year. There’s still going to be too many visitors and parties," wrote Stacy Pitera Vinciguerra. "I don’t believe they made the best decision for the town at all."

For Parade Attendees

Those who plan to attend the parade in person are asked to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and others and to wear a mask.

Parking bans will be in place along the parade route starting at 7:30 a.m. In addition, Chestnut Street from Naomi to Hope will be closed starting at 6:30 a.m., and a parking ban will be in place from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. State Street between High Street and Wood Street will also be closed at 7:30 a.m., with a parking ban from midnight to noon. Parking is allowed "basically anywhere you can find it," according to the parade's official website, with lots open to the public at the corner of Hope and Gooding Streets.

No porta-potties will be available to the public this year.

Because the parade will be so much shorter than usual, blankets and chairs along the route are discouraged. No spots can be claimed before 5 a.m., and anything placed along the route before that time will be confiscated. Areas cannot be roped or taped off, either, and overnight camping is prohibited.

Alcoholic beverages are banned, as well as fireworks, silly string, streamers, poppers, water guns or any kind of projectile.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated the parking ban along the parade route begins at midnight, instead of 5 a.m.