Fall River to hold parade, Celebration of America and Veterans, with free food, live music, activities

The City of Fall River and the Fall River War Veterans Council have partnered to honor veterans with both a parade and a celebration on Veterans Day.

The Fall River Veterans Day parade returns this year after the last two being motorcades due to the pandemic. The November 11th parade will feature floats, bands, and vehicles.

According to Senior Vice Commander of the War Veterans Council, Bill Desmarais, there will be at least six bands playing in the parade including jazz, marching band, and rock music. The long list of participants will include The Boy Scouts, Durfee ROTC, antique vehicles, Vietnam Memorial Wall Float, Battleship Float, Rolling Thunder’s POW MIA Cage, the Veterans Kitchen, motorcycles ponies, the Colonial Navy Band, the Swansea High School Band, the Somerset/Berkley High School Band, the BMC Durfee High School Band, the Dixie Land Band, and many other floats, vehicles and marching or walking entries. All of the local veteran’s organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and the AmVets will also be taking part. The Bristol County Sheriff’s Department, Fall River Police Department, and the Fall River Fire Department will have a strong presence in the parade.

The parade route will step off at 1:00 p.m. and travel from Eastern Avenue to Bedford Street, going west down Bedford Street to Battleship Cove and finishing in the area of Heritage State Park.

Desmarais also stated that this year, after the parade, the city will be having a family-friendly “Celebration of America and Veterans” event centered around the area of the carousel and Battleship. There will be a short speaking program featuring Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Mayor Paul Coogan, Fall River’s new Veterans’ Service Officer Micaila Britto, retired USMC Colonel John Atkinson, and Fall River War Veterans Commander Robert Viner. Desmarais will emcee.

After the speaking program, there will be live music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s performed by the band “Wolf Gang”. Free popcorn, M&M’s, tootsie rolls and hot chocolate will be available. Many food, beverage, and product vendors will be on hand. JC the DJ will be performing and inviting people to participate in Karaoke.

Everyone is asked to practice their own individual health precautions due to the pandemic.

Anyone wanting to participate as a Parade Unit, a vendor at the Battleship, or want more information are asked to contact Senior Vice Commander Bill Desmarais at (508) 951-6847 or the City’s Veterans’ Service Officer, Micaila Brito at (508) 324-2438.