Millbury-Sutton Chronicle: Sutton Gets Ready to Celebrate Independence Day This Sunday

Posted from the The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle
Written By Maureen Sullivan

SUTTON -- Get ready to celebrate.

For the first time since 2019, Sutton will have an Independence Day celebration. Events on June 26 will range from a parade to Cow Chip Bingo, live music and food trucks to fireworks.

"We are excited to bring back this fantastic community event after a few years of shutdown," said April Eaton Brown, a member of the Sutton 4th Committee's Board of Directors, in the committee's official program. "The support in our special town of Sutton has been overwhelming, and we are more than ready to celebrate not only a bit of normalcy, but camaraderie with our friends and neighbors."

The committee is dedicating the parade to Jim Brigham; the fireworks to Bob LeClaire; and the concert featuring Mike Girard's Big Swinging Thing to Dave Karacius.

"They will be missed, but I know each of them would enjoy being remembered as part of the fun in this celebration of Independence Day," said Jonathan Rocheleau of the Sutton 4th's Board of Directors.

About the parade

The Grand Marshall will be Mark Bailey. A lifelong resident of Sutton, who worked for the town's School Department for 52 years, first as a part-time custodian, then as a teacher before wrapping it up as the district's fine arts director. In 2017, Sutton Public Schools established "The Mark Bailey Positive Impact Award." This is given annual to two students and two faculty members who have had a positive impact in the school and community. Bailey is also the director of music at St. Mark's Church. Bailey is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Schedule of Events

3-8 p.m. -- Games and activities on the Common (some games require a fee). The First Congregational Church booth will have a "guess how many marbles in the jar" contest, with the winner receiving a bucket full of prizes.
3-9 p.m. -- Food trucks, First Church parking lot. This includes the Sutton Lions Club, Bird's Nest Italian Street Food,  Bird's Nest Panini truck, Sabor Latino, Moe's Sweet Eats, Jolly Roger Smokin Sliders BBQ, Minuteman Kettle Corn, Dogfather and the Mooving Cow.
4 p.m. -- Parade. Steps off from the Simonian Early Learning Center and heads up Boston Road to the Common. Sponsored by Lundgren Automotive Group.
Frying Pan Toss -- TBA, but shortly after the parade ends
5 p.m. -- Opening acts begin, big stage near the food trucks
6:30 p.m. -- Cow Chip Bingo, fields behind 298 Boston Road. Sponsored by the Sutton Preservation 4-H Club. One cow will be released in a marked area of the field. 50% of the profits will be paid to the owner of the square where the first cow patty lands. If there is no deposit after one hour, the winner is determined by the placement of the cow's back left hoof. Here is how you join the fun: email suttonma4h@gmail.com to sign up.  All proceeds benefit the Sutton Fourth Festivities.
7 p.m. -- Mike Gerard's Big Swinging Thing, on the big stage
9:15 p.m. -- Fireworks, fields across from the Congregational Church, behind the blacksmith shop. Sponsored by Unified Global Packaging.
Ongoing -- encampment on the fields behind 298 Boston Road

All events and times are subject to change. In case of rain, the fireworks will be moved to July 8. The parade will take place rain or shine.

Parking and other rules

● Parade starts at 4 p.m. at the schools and ends at the Common, lasting about one hour. The roads will close at 3 p.m. You will only be allowed to enter if there is still parking available in the designated parking areas. There will be police officers at all closures. If you are having a house party, your guests should arrive before the roads close.
● There is no driving along the parade route during the parade.
● Residents returning home during the shutdown will of course be allowed, provided it is not at parade time. Please be patient with the police officers as they are doing their jobs to keep order.
● Shuttle buses will be doing a continuous loop from the high school to Armsby Road where there is field parking.
● Fireworks are at 9:15 p.m., launched in the field behind the Blacksmith Shop. The fireworks should be visible near and far.

There will be some inconveniences I am sure, but remember - this is a time for us to come together as neighbors and appreciate that as a small town we can still walk our cows and horses down the street

Designated Parking Areas

Handicapped Parking - behind the Sutton Center Store (3 Singletary Ave) : You will need to have a handicapped placard. After 3 p.m., you must arrive from the Millbury direction as the center intersection will be blocked.

Sutton Schools -- All lots are initially used for staging and parade participants. AFTER the parade, the lots open up for public parking.

St. Mark’s Church, 356 Boston Road -- VIP parking and general parking.

Sutton Youth Soccer Fields (38 Singletary Ave.) -- General Parking

4 Armsby Road Field -- General Parking

If you have ANY questions, please contact April Brown or Jonathan Rocheleau at: thesuttonfourth@gmail.com.

Meet the Mayor

Waffles, a deaf boxer who was rescued from a puppy mill, was chosen out of a field of 45 canine candidates to "preside" over Sutton's 4th of July celebration. Joining the mayor-elect will be Deputy Mayor Baylor; Sheriff Copernicus; and Parade Commissioner Reginald Percival Ambrose.

Special swag

The Sutton 4th has commemorative T-shirts and Coca-Cola bottles available for purchase; proceeds will help the committee pay for the costs of the celebration. The items are available online through the Sutton 4th website, as well as Polly's Antiques in Sutton Center the day of the event.

Sponsors

Sponsors for the parade and fireworks include the Sutton Cultural Council; Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast; Al's Rubbish and Container Rental Service; Unibank; Vaillancourt Folk Art; Mulhane Home for Funerals; Milford Federal; Sutton Center Country Store; Koopman Lumber & Hardware; Allen Creative Group, Bank Hometown; Waters Farm Preservation Inc., Lifesong Church; Wonder Kids

Yankee Piano Service; Dan's Carpentry; Primetals; Immedia Event Production; MCU; Gustafson Plumbers Inc.; Brian Clowdus Experience; Rob Judson Contracting Inc.; Millbury National Bank; TLC pet Haven; Angela Pet Care; Capital Heating & Cooling; Brickstone Kitchen; Dauphinais Concrete; Tiny Leaf Designs Photography; IBA Print Shop; Goretti's Supermarket; Price Chopper/Market 32; All Care Medical Supply; Windle Inc.

Raadical Tax; Source International Corp.; Mastercraft Waterproofing; Dudley-Gendron American Legion Post 414; Esler Family Foundation; Package Steel Systems; Pleasant Valley Country Club; Unified Global Packaging.

How to help

The biggest need right now is for volunteers, especially on the day of the event.

The committee would also appreciate financial donations.

For updates and how to donate, visit https://thesuttonfourth.org/, or https://www.facebook.com/groups/494220757720576