We’re not going to be lacking any entertainment or energy this year.”

Chuck MacDonough, Parade Committee Chairman

There will be bands. Canons. Singers. Dancers. Soldiers. Cadets. War veterans. Princesses. Firefighters. Splash pools. Hugs. Celebrities. Solo cups. Smiles. And Mr. Potato Head.

It will be, well, normal. Just like every other Bristol Fourth of July parade in recent memory — aside from last year.

Expect a return to normal for Bristol’s biggest day, keeping in mind that the biggest day won’t be July 4. It will be Monday, July 5. Because Independence Day falls on a Sunday, the traditional Bristol celebration is moved to Monday, beginning with Patriotic Exercises in front of the Colt School at 8:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., the parade will step off from the corner of Hope and Chestnut streets, just like it has for decades.

The fact that the parade will be “stepping off” rather than rolling off, as it did last year, is great news for parade organizers and the tens of thousands who look forward to the signature event of the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in America. Because of pandemic-induced restrictions, organizers converted the grand tradition into a car parade in 2020, keeping the streak alive but cutting short or eliminating so many of the features of the beloved procession.

This year, the parade is coming back as strong as ever. “Covid kicked our butt last year. To some extent, it’s still kicking our butt this year,” said parade chairman Chuck MacDonough. “But I think people will be entertained this year. I hope they enjoy it.”

Mr. MacDonough said planning this year’s parade has been remarkably easy, and difficult, at the same time.

“Well, we had a full parade planned last year, so we had all these groups and all these logistics teed up for last year,” Mr. MacDonough said. “I had planned that parade about four times last year, before we ended up with the car parade.”

So the template was in place, ready to be dusted off. Yet it’s been happening fast and furious in recent weeks, ever since the state relaxed its health restrictions and it became clear there would be a full parade this year.

“Everything pretty much fell into place, but my phone has not stopped ringing,” said Mr. MacDonough. This week’s Phoenix includes a special insert outlining the official Parade Order of March, but it is probably only 90 to 95 percent accurate. The final lineup has been in flux and shifting slightly every day.

Mr. MacDonough said one of the last additions was to clear a spot for the state-champion Mt. Hope wrestling team, the first in the school’s history.

Bands, bands, bands

One of the big setbacks for the parade has been the loss of the traditional drum corps that have been fan favorites. “That’s the biggest disappointment,” said Mr. MacDonough. “Most of those groups are just starting to become available in different parts of the country.”

It’s the same with nearly all marching bands across America. Most were relegated to virtual-only practices for at least a year, and they’ve only recently begun face to face sessions. The Mt. Hope High School Marching Band shared that same fate — not allowed to play in person for a year, then relegated to only distanced, masked rehearsals.

“Our high school band won’t be at full strength,” Mr. MacDonough said. “They’ll be at partial strength. They haven’t been practicing in person … they were still playing with masks on until a few weeks ago. Until the mask mandate was lifted, we didn’t even expect them to participate this year.”

The same is true of high school bands from Minnesota, which have been regulars in the Bristol parade in recent years.

To supplement for the loss of traditional marching bands, the committee and Mr. MacDonough have engaged the talents of multiple commercial bands. Most will be riding on floats or flatbeds, but they will be bringing live music and energy to the parade.

“We’re not going to be lacking any entertainment or energy this year,” he said. “We’ve worked really hard to have as much music and entertainment as we traditionally have.”

A tribute to firefighters

One of the special additions to this year’s parade comes from Warren, where the fire department has been working to put together a special tribute to honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The original plan was to recruit 343 firefighters to march in the procession — equal to the number who died in the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

They may have fallen short of that goal, but expect close to 150 firefighters, along with a memorial float and a brigade of fire apparatus to honor their legacy.

Mr. MacDonough also revealed there will be an Air Force flyover just before the parade steps off, celebrity Judge Frank Caprio joined the lineup a few days ago, and a few other special surprises are in store for the big day.

“It’s going to be a long parade, but I think everyone is going to enjoy it,” Mr. MacDonough said.

The weekend lineup

Now through July 5

• Rockwell Amusements Carnival on the Town Common

Saturday, July 3

• The final night of concerts: Barfly at 6:30 p.m.; The DMB Project at 7:45 p.m.

Sunday, July 4

• Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. off Poppasquash Point

Monday, July 5

• Patriotic Exercises: 8:30 a.m.

• The annual Military, Civic and Firemen’s Bristol Fourth of July Parade: 10:30 a.m. (same route, same rules)