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.