Published: 4/12/2018 10:51:15 PM
Modified: 4/13/2018 9:19:15 AM
ATHOL — The North Quabbin Chamber & Visitors Bureau, Athol Fire Department and Athol and Orange Lions Clubs have released the lineup for this year’s River Rat Parade.
The parade includes seven divisions, 102 vehicles and more than 750 marchers. This year’s Grand Marshall is Athol Police Lt. Kevin Heath, who has led the parade in a cruiser for many years and is retiring this year, making him a fitting choice to ride instead of drive, according to organizers. Everyone in the River Rat family thank him for his distinguished service and wish him well, they said.
The weather forecast for Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton, is partly sunny, mild and 65 degrees.
The promenade will begin on School Street and turn left onto Main and finish at the Lord Pond Plaza near the carnival. Organizers and participants said they are looking forward to a big turnout as the weekend’s River Rat Race celebrations begin and continue through Sunday.
Late entries are welcome and should proceed to the Riverbend School for placement on Saturday. Participants are asked to arrive at their division locations starting at 8:15 a.m. School Street will be closed at 8 a.m. to regular traffic. Marchers may be dropped off at the CCD center or on the Congress Street side of Riverbend School. The parade will step off at approximately 9:30 a.m., immediately following the runners of the Big Cheese 5k road race.
Division 1 Marchers line up at Our Lady Immaculate Church
Athol Police Cruiser
Pequoig Detachment 1168 of the Marine Corp League Colorguard
Salvadore Automotive Group w/Grand Marshall Lt. Kevin Heath
Rep. Susannah Whipps, Sen. Anne Gobi
Athol Board of Selectmen & Town Manager Shaun Suhoski
Athol Royalston Education Fund
Athol Royalston School Committee
Athol High School Marching Band
Girardi Distributors
Division 2 Marchers line up behind Division 1
Athol Daily News
United ARC/GAAFSN
Adams Animal Hospital
Integrated Vegetation Services
Orange Graphix
Nutter Racing
Athol Credit Union
Athol Lions Club
YMCA Camp Wiyaka and Youth Sports
Division 3 Marchers line up on School Street at Riverbend Street
Orange Community Band
North Quabbin Community Coalition and Recovery Center
Girl Scouts-North Quabbin Service Unit 122
Subway of Athol
Athol Mahar Youth Sports
Bear Country 95.3
Athol Orange Baptist Church
110 Grill Athol
Cubscouts Pack 40 Orange
Liberty Greys-7th Tennessee Co. D, Harris Rifles
Division 4 Marchers line up on Park Avenue between School and Allen streets
Phillipston Animal Control
Millers River Watershed Council
Orange and Athol Farmers Markets
Roland Woodbury 1946 Ford Falcon
Petersham Frontier Girls Troop 448
Shoefly Graphics
Orange Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM
Division 5 Marchers line up on Allen Street between Park Avenue and into Riverbend School parking area
Athol-Orange Eagles Riders
Rolling Thunder Vermont Chapter
Boiler Bar and Grill
Division 5 continued
Doe Valley Farm Model A Ford
*All late entries
Division 6 Marchers line up on School Street from Park Avenue toward Main Street
Wright’s Welding Race Team
Bill Kessler 1941 Packard with Cpt. Bill Purple
Massachusetts Military History Expo
Dale’s Auto Body & Towing
A&E Property Maintenance
North Central Mass Trash
Division 7 Marchers line up behind Division 6
Athol Fire
Orange Fire
New Salem Fire
Petersham Fire
Royalston Fire
Warwick Fire
Petersham Police Cruiser
The parade is sponsored in part by Workers’ Credit Union.