Fall Foliage Parade
On the first Sunday of October every year, the streets of North Adams come alive with vibrant floats, booming drumlines, and thousands of spectators, all gathered to celebrate a tradition that has grown from modest beginnings into a beloved community spectacle. The North Adams Fall Foliage Parade has become a symbol of local pride over the decades.
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The Fall Foliage Parade traces its roots back all the way to 1947, at which point it consisted mainly of drum and bugle corps. While it initially struggled for funding, the parade began to take shape in the 1950s and became what we now know as the Fall Foliage Festival in 1956. Over the decades, it blossomed into one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated events in the region. By 1969, conservative attendance estimates ranged from 40,000 to 75,000. Spectators lined the streets as more than 30 bands and drum corps, including the Melha Shriners (who still participate to this day), the Pershing Rifle Drill Team, and Montreal’s les Vaillantes, filled the air with lively beats. That year’s theme, “The Wonderful World of Books,” brought a literary flair to the procession. Floats inspired by classic stories like Gulliver’s Travels, The Wizard of Oz, and The Abduction of Persephone wound their way through town. The Harry S. Orr Trophy for best float went to the local St. Joseph’s High School for their Romeo and Juliet float, its design mirroring the book’s cover in a strikingly literal interpretation. Politicians, both local and state, often walk in the parade. Common attendees over the years have included figures such as Mayor James F. Cleary, Governor Francis W. Sargent and U.S. Representative Silvio O. Conte. Even members of the prominent Massachusetts political dynasty, the Kennedy family, have come for the parade. Both John F. Kennedy and his brother Edward ‘Ted’ Kennedy have joined in the festivities over the years. However, politicians have also been the cause of controversy at the festival, such as the time when a float urging attendees to vote for George C. Wallace was banned from participation at the last minute. The parade’s impact extends beyond the day of the event itself. The week leading up to the parade is filled with various activities, making it a true festival. These events, ranging from a Children’s Art Show and Teddy Bear Clinic to an Arts & Crafts Fair and a 5k Road Race, attract visitors from all corners. As one of the largest gatherings in the region, it has brought together not only the citizens of North Adams but also thousands of people from neighboring towns and even out-of-state visitors like Kenneth Zirtzlaff, who drove from Wisconsin just to attend. Behind the scenes, individuals like Tom King have played a pivotal role in shaping the parade’s legacy. King, who served as the chairman of the 1967 parade, remained actively involved in organizing the event for many years. The festival’s success is also thanks to the dedication of the Northern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, who sponsor the parade annually, and the Festival Steering Committee, which oversees its planning. Harry S. Orr, known as the father of the Fall Foliage Parade, and for whom the award for best float is named, is traditionally the one to appoint the Grand Marshal—a figure honored for their contributions to community betterment. Each year, the Grand Marshal is selected by the Steering Committee, ensuring that the spirit of community continues to guide the event’s direction. The Fall Foliage Parade, with its rich history and enduring community spirit, continues to captivate audiences every October. As a celebration of local pride and creativity, it remains a cherished tradition that unites generations of people in North Adams.
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Drury High School Marching Band in the Parade.
The Drury High School band marches in formation, their blue and white uniforms gleaming as they fill the air with rousing notes. For generations, local school bands have been the pulse of the Fall Foliage Parade, each performance a proud display of community spirit. | Source: Photo courtesy of the Boudreau family.
JFK.
Picture of Senator John F. Kennedy participating in the 1958 Fall Foliage Parade. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.
Apollo Moon Landing Float.
Amidst the excitement of the 1969 moon landing, this float by the Sprague Management Club celebrated humanity’s giant leap. As noted by another story, the Sprague Electric Company played a role in the Apollo 11 mission, so this float celebrated the community’s achievement as well. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.
Beginning of the 1969 Fall Foliage Parade.
A banner heralds the 1969 Fall Foliage Parade theme, “The Wonderful World of Books,” inviting spectators to enter a literary landscape where beloved characters and classic tales come to life. It was a year of record crowds and creative floats accurately, and even quite literally, representing that year’s theme. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.
Gulliver's Travels Float.
Towering above the crowd, the 1969 Gulliver’s Travels float brought a literary epic to life, dwarfing onlookers. In a parade themed “The Wonderful World of Books,” the float became a larger-than-life reminder of how stories can transport and transform. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Public Library.
Romeo and Juliet Float.
In 1969, the local St. Joseph’s High School captured the Harry S. Orr Trophy for their Romeo and Juliet float. Their literal recreation of the book’s cover stood as a tribute to that year’s theme: “The Wonderful World of Books.” | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.
Ted Kennedy in the Fall Foliage Parade.
In a moment that underscores the prominence of the Fall Foliage Parade, Edward ‘Ted’ Kennedy strides through North Adams waving at the crowds, his presence a nod to the parade’s power to draw national figures to its small-town streets | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.
37th Annual Fall Foliage Parade (1992) Invitation.
The 37th annual Gigantic Parade, now a staple of North Adams tradition, began as a modest procession decades earlier. This 1992 invitation, sponsored by the Northern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, marks a pivotal year when the parade had firmly established itself as a regional spectacle. | Source: Courtesy of the North Adams Historical Society.