It’s no surprise to hear that the planning of a 238-year-old celebration is a time-consuming and complex endeavor. But the act of pulling off the huge parade and over a dozen accompanying events attended by hundreds of thousands of people from as far away as New Zealand is not what has the leading member of Bristol’s Fourth of July Committee feeling slightly uneasy as the holiday approaches next week.

“The average age of our committee, I’d say, is probably in the high 50s,” said Chuck MacDonough, Fourth of July Committee General Chairman, in an interview on Monday. “And we do need a younger generation.”

MacDonough became the committee’s Parade Chair in 2020; an unenviable role at the time as a rampaging pandemic threatened to cancel the nation’s longest-running parade for the first time in history. MacDonough and the committee was able to pivot with a vehicle parade, seen by a fraction of the attendees, but the show went on.

But even with that unprecedented challenge tackled, MacDonough said he can’t help but wonder what will happen going forward as the older committee members continue to age, and that he hasn’t seen much evidence yet to suggest a new crop of passionate Bristolians are ready and waiting to fill those voids.

“I don’t know where the current generation is relative to how they feel about volunteerism and having the passion for what we’re doing,” he said. “Celebrating the nation’s independence and doing it in style and grace and in the way we think is right and having the passion to do it.”

A need for new blood, and new ideas
There are over 130 members that make up the Fourth of July Committee, some of which have been active for over 40 years. Many of them have maintained similar roles for over a decade, specializing in one event or another. Some help with fundraising, while others take a more active role on Parade Day. Along with those full-time committee members, there are many more volunteers who step up during events and the parade itself to help the whole thing run smoothly. This is all separate from the many Town workers, police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel that ensure the enormous event occurs safely.

It’s not just a team of experienced volunteers, MacDonough said, it’s a cohesive group held together by their enthusiasm for the celebration, and what it represents.

“That’s the beauty of a committee,” he said. “We’re a team, we’re like family. When one of us falls down or passes on, others have to pick up the baton.”

But apart from a few younger members who have stepped into leading roles — MacDonough praised current Parade Chair Camille Teixeira as an example of that — the majority of the committee members who do the bulk of the organizing, fundraising, and executing required to pull off the annual celebration don’t have someone in the wings to carry that baton when they eventually must step aside.

“We’re looking for people to come in with new ideas, and new ways to raise money. These events, the parade included, are not free. They cost the town money in terms of security and police, fire, all that they put forward in the town budget, and on top of that we’re spending money to put the bands and entertainment in the parade,” he said. “All of that costs money. The concerts cost money, and prices go up and inflation is high. It’s been a very challenging year to grapple around the rising prices and sponsorships that seem to be dwindling.”

MacDonough spoke highly of the Bristol business community, which has helped raise the lion’s share of the roughly $400,000 the committee is tasked with raising each year to make the celebration happen, mentioning Wayne Electric and Superior Comfort as two newcomers that have helped close funding gaps this year.

“I’ve been very blessed with a community of businesses that have stood up to be recognized and have helped us,” he said.

Is there a barrier to entry?
When asked if the tight-knit vibe of the committee was something that might be off-putting to outsiders who are potentially interested in joining, MacDonough said it was something he had thought of before. He acknowledged that there was undoubtedly a learning curve to becoming integrally involved with the committee.

“It’s a huge responsibility,” he said. “To me, I felt compelled to do it because I wanted to do it, I felt I had the capacity to do it. And it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. I’m just concerned that it took me 11 years to garner the courage and understanding to unravel the puzzle as Parade Chair. And it was challenging.”

But he also mentioned that those interested in joining the committee, or even just starting as a volunteer, shouldn’t be intimidated by what the role might one day turn into — they should just jump in and look for any ways they can help. While only Bristol residents (currently) can become full-fledged committee members, anybody from anywhere can sign up to volunteer.

“It’s all about understanding and setting your own expectations. And what you’re personally going to get out of it,” he said. “They don’t have to be in their teens or early 20s. They can be in their 30s or 40s. It’s just about having the passion for the celebration and understanding and taking the time to learn the ropes.

“The support system is there,” he continued. “Assuming everyone takes advantage of that support system, it will live for another 1,000 years.”

If you’re interested in volunteering for the upcoming parade, or becoming a full committee member, visit www.FourthOfJulyBristolRI.com.