The parade celebrating Milton's 350th anniversary drew large crowds. It started at Milton High School and ended at Cunningham Park. Various community groups, marching bands, clowns, and local businesses participated in the parade. Spectators enthusiastically watched the parade and celebrated their town. The event was a success and showed the community's pride for Milton's 350th birthday.

1. Spectators Flood the Streets to Watch Milton’s 350th
Anniversary Parade
Seamus FitzPatrick
6/13/12
Streets decorated with a two-mile red, white, and blue painted ribbon to celebrate
Milton’s 350th
birthday bash were blocked off at 12:45 PM to make way for the honorary
annual parade which kicked off at 2:00 PM. The ever-entertaining march started at
Milton High School, 25 Gile Rd, and concluded at Cunningham Park, 75 Edge Hill Rd.
Local community groups and businesses gathered to put on a show for the town to watch
which it will probably never forget.
“Get this traffic outta here! We gotta start the parade!” shouted a police officer just
outside Milton High School. After the impeding vehicles and bystanders cleared out of
the way, fire trucks and police cars from Milton and neighboring towns such as
Randolph, Weymouth, and Norfolk County rolled down Canton Ave. to get the festivities
underway.
Following were several marching bands, which drew adamant support via chants and
clapping from the on-looking townspeople. These included students; veterans; soldiers
dressed as Lincoln Minute Men; the Stuart Highlanders, a New England based pipe band;
Connecticut Valley Field Music, a fife and drum band; and the Mummers’ Woodland
Strings Band, which is famous for its musical work in Philadelphia. “Seeing the
Mummers in Philadelphia was a real treat,” said a nearby observer. “I love the music and
their exotic costumes.”
Next was an array of various clowns in colorful and creative attire, make-up, and wigs.
They especially drew a rouse from the younger audience, which made parents proud they
brought their children to watch their town be honored.
Local schools and businesses also played their part by adding to the fanfare with various
vehicles. St. Agatha’s Drama Club and St. Elizabath’s waved to the crowd from the
inside of their respective trolleys. Also mixed in was a Bay State Physical Therapy
monster truck, a Caldwell Banking horse and carriage, and a Thayer Nursery truck with a
sign on the back that cleverly read that they were “so excited we wet our plants” for the
parade. Also not to forget was a full-size army tank to honor the veterans from Milton
who make countless sacrifices to fight for our country.
As the last of the acts roamed down the street from Milton High School, some
exuberantly chased the parade down Canton Ave. to the finish while others stayed outside
the school and joyfully shared what they had just witnessed with one another. “This was a
great event for Milton,” exclaimed an observer. “Everybody had a lot of pride for the
350th
anniversary celebration.”
Anyone in attendance would argue that this was perhaps Milton’s best birthday party yet
and there was absolutely no lack of spirit from the citizens of the town.