The annual Yankee Homecoming Parade will march down High Street on Sunday, August 6th at 12 PM, marking the final official event of Newburyport’s week-long celebration. The parade, which will cover a little over a mile, begins at the intersection of Moseley Avenue and Ferry Road and end at State Street.
Along with tons of fire trucks, police cruisers, motorcycles, and vintage cars, spectators will also enjoy floats from local businesses, musical performances, a juggler on a unicycle, and Chinese dragon dancers. Many participants in the Yankee Homecoming Parade also throw candy and other swag to children along the way.
The theme for this year’s Yankee Homecoming is “There’s Only One Newburyport” focusing on celebrating the long history of Newburyport’s cherished tradition with a strong appreciation to be reunited with family and friends. Many floats and performances will represent this theme in the Yankee Homecoming Parade. Newburyport has been celebrating Yankee Homecoming every year since 1958 and although other cities and towns also host Yankee Homecoming festivities, Newburyport is the oldest and longest running continuous Yankee Homecoming in the country.
If you’re thinking about joining in the parade instead of watching from the sidelines, there is no fee if your float follows the theme. Nonprofit organizations may also join the Yankee Homecoming Parade free of charge. Businesses that would like to participate outside of the theme must pay an advertising fee. All registrations can be done online.
For locals and tourists that would like to enjoy watching the Yankee Homecoming Parade, it’s best to arrive early to find a spot on either side of High Street. Space fills up quickly and many locals even set up chairs days in advance to claim a larger area for groups.
The Yankee Homecoming Parade is a $15,000 operation, making it the second most expensive event of the week, after the Yankee Homecoming fireworks display.
Newburyport’s Yankee Homecoming celebration lasts an entire week, beginning July 29th and ending with the annual Yankee Coming Parade. To find even more ways to join in the celebrations, check out all of the events listed on our calendar.
Video of 2018 Parade
