The 24th Annual WILI Boom Box Parade will be in town this Fourth of July, where folks march the route blaring their boom boxes in unison to a local radio station’s patriotic soundtrack.
The parade – which has no set theme – swaps the traditional Americana marching band for people with boom boxes and showcases bizarre floats and marchers.
Radio DJ and grand marshal Wayne Norman once paraded wearing rollerblades while towing a bus decorated like a giant boom box.
He says many of the marchers “express their independence” by making floats referring to political issues in the town.
About 15 years ago they had a problem with prostitutes so a float with a big hook – representing hookers – rolled down the route.
When Willimantic was dubbed the “heroin capital” a group dressed up in a huge fish costume with a sign renaming the town the “herring” capital.
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