Boom Box Parade

WINDHAM’S 40th BOOM BOX PARADE IS COMING!!!!

The 40th annual WILI “BOOM BOX PARADE” begins at 11:00 a.m. on July 4th, 2025 beginning at Jillson Square in downtown Willimantic, marching westbound for 2/3 mile to Memorial Park. It’s THE LARGEST PARADE OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD!

The 36th, 37th, 38th and 39th WILI “BOOM BOX PARADES” returned to Main Street in Willimantic in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The parade went virtual in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic (for details, see below). For pictures of the 2023 WILI July 4th Boom Box Parade, click here, or go to the “WILI Boom Box Parade” Facebook page.

The 39th annual WILI July 4th #boomboxparade drew big crowds to Main Street in 2024. At 79 minutes, it was the longest parade since 2018. After a few morning showers, step off temperature was 76F , with a dewpoint of 66. The sun popped out a few times. Parade Grand Marshal Wayne Norman wore a UConn Men’s Basketball jersey, with a 2024 NCAA champion towel on his drum major hat. He sported his NCAA championship bling, and wore UConn slippers. He stood in a Jeep from Capitol Garage Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM with morning newsman John Tuite, who had a Celtics shirt and hat, as the two were paying tribute to the 2024 champions. Wayne and John toted Boom Boxes. And WILI’s Keith C. Rice walked behind them wearing a patriotic inflatable eagle. Families from San Diego and Baltimore were among the spectators. As usual, the parade drew many high-profile politicians, including US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, 2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, State Treasurer Erick Russell, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, State Rep Susan Johnson, and State Senator Mae Flexer. There were many youth groups and civic organizations, and a batch of old cars. The Traveling Fish Head Club of Northeastern Connecticut had a sign that said “Vote Fish Head Nov 5.” And WilliBrew wrapped up the parade with a “We’re All Mad For Beer” float that included a Dixieland jazz band. See you at the 40th!

In 1986, no marching band could be found for Windham’s Memorial Day Parade. Five weeks later, the “Boom Box Parade” concept was born, as WILI-AM radio played the marching band music on the air, while thousands marched and watched, loudly playing their radios (boom boxes). No other town has a parade like this.

Anyone can march or enter a float in “Connecticut’s Unique People’s Parade.” The only requirement is to wear some red, white, and blue, and bring a radio tuned to WILI (1400-AM). And now, the parade music is simulcast on WILI-AM’s FM translator at 95.3 FM. American flags are encouraged. There is no “official” theme for the parade.

Formation for the Boom Box Parade starts at Jillson Square on Main Street around 9:00 on July 4th. No pre-registration is necessary. The parade marches west on Main Street to Memorial Park. Safety guidelines include no water spraying, no throwing candy (but candy can be handed out), and no reckless operator behavior.

The 2022 parade lasted 80 minutes. It was 77 degrees and sunny at stepoff, and the dewpoint of 49 equaled the first parade (1986) as the least humid

In 2021, Governor Ned Lamont brought a nice surprise–sax player Collin Tilton from the swing band Eight To The Bar and the Shaboo All-Stars. Collin played along with the parade soundtrack as it aired on 14/WILI and 95.3FM. Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of State Denise Meriill, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Second District Congressman Joe Courtney, Windham State Rep Susan Johnson and State Senator Mae Flexer were among the elected leaders.

Click here to see the list of songs used in the Boom Box Parade soundtrack.

Parade Grand Marshal Wayne Norman was joined in 2022 by WILI morning newsman John Tuite. They honored ECSU baseball’s 2022 NCAA National Championship, and Windham High boys basketball’s 2022 State championship. Wayne carried a boom box, and wore an ECSU baseball uniform (#14, of course), with his popular 5′ red, white, and blue tie, and his traditional drum major hat, with an ECSU baseball cap on top. And to finish the look, he dangled his round red boom box over his shoulder from an ECSU baseball bat. John wore WHS jersey #22. Players from both teams followed in a flat bed truck, flashing their championship trophies.

The parades are always led by Grand Marshal Wayne Norman–WILI’s morning man since 1970, who led the 2023 parade with a tribute to the UConn Men’s Basketball team’s fifth NCAA championship in 2023. Similarly, in 2022, he wore an ECSU baseball uniform to honor the 2022 NCAA champion Eastern baseball team. Wayne started the 2021 parade dressed in hospital scrubs to honor pandemic first responders. In the 2019 parade he rode a snazzy Can-Am Spyder, escorted by ladies on motorcycles from Libelle Sisters Riding Club. He began the 2018 parade with newsman Mike Morrissette, dressed as “aging hippie rockers” to welcome the new Shaboo Stage to Willimantic.

John Shishmanian photo, courtesy of the Norwich Bulletin

In prior years, he has started the parade in classic cars, was a patriotic butterfly (2013) , and a “Frog of Windham” (2012), joined by WILI’s ceramic “Frogcaster.” He began the 2011 parade in a UConn men’s basketball uniform to honor the NCAA champs, and marched with Windham High School’s state champion girls basketball team. In 2010 he wore a cap and gown, campaigning (unsuccessfully) to be the next UConn president. In 2007 he celebrated WILI’s 50^th anniversary with a 1950’s look. In 2006 he was dressed as the “King of Willimantic,” sitting atop a huge Boom Box. In 2005 he paddled a kayak with red hair, wearing the uniform of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox. In prior years he has ridden an adult tricycle, a go-cart, a motorcycle, a scooter, and in 1998 pulled the world’s largest boom box while rollerblading.

Norman stresses that everyone bring a Boom Box. “The parade doesn’t work if you don’t bring a radio,” he says. “No Boom Box? No problem! Just bring any radio and turn it up!” To see the current listing of the songs in the parade soundtrack, click here.

Past parade marchers have included a “baby boomers unit” (parents pushing children in strollers); a “precision drill team” (marchers holding power drills); skateboard units, along with various decorated floats and marching youth and civic groups. Among the most popular annual entries are the Willimantic Brewing Company’s incredibly creative floats, the “Traveling Fish Head Club of Northeast Connecticut,” and “Haggerosa,”—up to 100 members of Willimantic’s Haggerty family, whose units have spanned three blocks.

For more parade information and photos, visit “WILI Boom Box Parade” on Facebook, call Wayne Norman at 860-456-1111, or email wayne@wili.com .

George Washington brings his men to the WILI July 4th Boom Box Parade

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and social distancing guidelines, the 35th annual WILI July 4^th “BOOM BOX PARADE” was not be held in 2020. However WILI provided a “VIRTUAL” Boom Box Parade, starting at 11 a.m. on July 4th, featuring photos and videos of prior parades, the marching band music sound track, and some surprise appearances. To watch the virtual 2020 “Zoom” Box Parade, click here. And we’ll look for you in the 2025 parade, which will begin at 11 a.m. on July 4, 2025.