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Pittsfield 4th of July Parade In Jeopardy As Organizers Search For Funding

Spectators line a street in downtown Pittsfield as a parade with marchers, balloons, and signs goes on
Pittsfield Parade Committee
A shot from the 2017 Pittsfield 4th Of July parade

The organizers behind the annual Pittsfield, Massachusetts 4th of July parade say the tradition stretches back to as early as 1824. But this year, the beloved event has hit financial straits. City Council President Peter Marchetti has been involved with the parade committee in a variety of roles for the past 15 years. He tells WAMC what it takes to pull off the patriotic display, the efforts being made to save it, and why the funding challenges appeared in the first place.

You can learn more about the parade at its website and its Facebook page.

Josh Landes has been WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief since February 2018, following stints at WBGO Newark and WFMU East Orange. A passionate advocate for Western Massachusetts, Landes was raised in Pittsfield and attended Hampshire College in Amherst, receiving his bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Radio Production. His free time is spent with his cat Harry, experimental electronic music, and exploring the woods.
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