2023 WILI July 4th Boom Box Parade

The 38th WILI July 4th Boom Box Parade managed to fool Mother Nature—again! Morning showers (.01”) were followed by afternoon rain, but it was dry during the parade. In fact the sun came out briefly before the parade. Step off temperature was 76F, with a dewpoint of 72F (equalling 2013 for the second highest). The rain—and threat of rain—kept the crowd down. The parade lasted 54 minutes. Only one of the 37 prior parades has been held in the rain (2014), but it has rained on July 4 fifteen of those 38 years!

Romantic Willimantic’s 2023 co-Cupids Susan Collins and Angelo Loukas were up front, carrying the parade banner.

As usual, the WilliBrew float brought up the rear with a “Midsummer Night’s Beer” theme.

The WilliBrew float got an ovation from the spectators watching at WilliBrew

WilliBrew owner David Wollner taking a photo of his float!

The popular Traveling Fishhead Club of Northeastern Connecticut went neutral this year—no sign.

The Grand Marshall Wayne Norman—who has broadcast UConn Men’s Basketball since 1981—used a UConn theme to salute the 5-time NCAA champs. He flashed his bling—five UConn rings—while wearing an actual UConn game uniform (Dan Cyrulik and Doug Wrenn were the only Huskies who wore #55) and UConn shorts. He wore a headset mic as is used during games, UConn slippers, and a UConn NCAA banner across his Uncle Sam hat. All while carrying a boom box tuned to WILI, an American flag, and a sign that said “WILI — Home of Champions!” At one point, his hat fell off and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin picked it up and placed it back where it belongs!

Peter Polomski photo

A bevy of CT politicians marched, including Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, 2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney, Attorney General William Tong, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, State Treasurer Eric Russell, State Rep Susan Johnson, and State Senator Mae Flexer.

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, State Treasurer Eric Russell, and 2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney–Peter Polomski photo

Congresman Joe Courtney, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin (with radio), U. S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Windham State Representative Susan Johnson–Peter Polomski photo

Again, our parade got great statewide media coverage, with channels 30, 61 and 8 running reports with video on the newscasts, a print story in the Willimantic Chronicle, and 40 pictures on the Courant website, including a photo of WILI’s Keith C. Rice at the top of page 1 on July 5th.

Thanks to all the people who braved the weather to make this “the biggest parade of its kind in the world.”