Ancients and Horribles parade will step off for 91st time
GLOCESTER – The Glocester Ancients & Horribles Parade Committee has announced the line-up, grand marshal, and related activities for its 91st running on Tuesday, July 4.
The parade, which attracts thousands of spectators to Chepachet every Fourth of July, first wound its way down Main Street in 1926. It has been held each and every year since.
The parade features traditional Fourth of July floats and marchers, such as veterans and fire trucks, as well as irreverent and satirical displays commenting on political and cultural issues, as local residents and costumed marchers parody news and cultural events.
The multi-division parade - the second oldest in the nation, next to Bristol - will step off at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 4 rain or shine. The parade route runs from the junction of Routes 100 and 98, down Route 100 to Route 44 and continues on 44 through Chepachet disbanding at Acotes Field across from Dino’s Park n’ Shop Marketplace.
Several bands will entertain the expected crowd of 10,000 or more. In addition, several large and small floats, walking groups, tractors, antique cars and trucks, artillery units, fire apparatus, and a cadre of cops, clowns, and assorted other characters will comprise the line of march.
This year’s grand marshal is the Rev. T.J. Varghese, pastor of St. Eugene Church in Chepachet. Fr. Varghese, a resident of North Providence and a priest for the past 21 years, studied for the priesthood at the Papal Seminary at Pune, the national seminar for India, and was ordained on Nov. 23, 1995.
He was appointed chaplain at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in 1999 and as director of pastoral care at Saint Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island in 2003. He served as assistant pastor of Saint Philip Parish in Greenville, assistant pastor of Saint Joan of Arc in Cumberland and presently serves as the pastor of St. Eugene Parish in Chepachet.
Varghese is also the Rhode Island State Police chaplain as well as the chaplain for the Glocester, Chepachet and Harmony fire districts and the Glocester Police Department. In 2011, he was given the Bishop Louis E. Gelineau award by the Rhode Island State Council.
He is also chaplain at the Providence VA Medical Center, where he counsels patients and celebrates Masses.
Recently Varghese was appointed administrator for two local parishes, where he basically manages and oversees all the duties and responsibilities of the churches. In addition, he is one of the deans of the Diocese of Providence, Northeast Deanery VIII, which encompasses 14 parishes.
Varghese is also this year’s recipient of the Chepachet Grange Citizen of the Year Award.
The 44th Annual July 4th Road Race kicks off Tuesday, July 4 at 9 a.m. from Chepachet Union Church, 1138 Putnam Pike. There are four races: a 5.5 mile race, a 1.75 mile race, a 1 mile race for children 8-12 years old, and a .5 mile race for children 7 years old and under.
The town’s July 4th fireworks display will be held on Saturday, July 1 at 9 p.m. at Glocester Memorial Park behind the Senior Center on Route 44. The rain date is Sunday, July 2.
Before the fireworks, there will be live music including Junior Musicians at 6 p.m. and Steve Malec and the Electric Flood at 7 p.m.
The entire schedule of July 4th events can be found online at www.glocesterri.com.