Kids riding bikes, scooters, wagons and non-motorized vehicles, often with their parents providing the push/pull power, will start parading from Darien High School at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 4. (What will the kids be doing? Mostly providing the charm. Whether they look bored, sad, angry or, more often, curious, happy and delighted, they’ll be exuding oodles of charm. It’s what kids do, particularly if they’re too young to do much mischief.
The annual Push-n-Pull Parade will be held at a new location in town on Sunday, July 4, 2021. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. at Darien High School, go down Noroton Avenue and end up at the Darien VFW Post 6933 at 205 Noroton Ave. — This article combines information from a Darien police announcement, which was sent to Darienite.com, and a Darien VFW announcement, which wasn’t (we snagged it from elsewhere). They, and anyone else, can send announcements to dave@darienite.com. The parade location has changed for 2021. It will step off from the Darien High School at 10:30 AM sharp, proceed south on Noroton Avenue, ending at the VFW located at 205 Noroton Ave.
The Darien July 4 Push-n-Pull parade, now in its 14th year, takes place Wednesday, when kids, their parents and parade organizers gather at Goodwives Shopping Center, then march through town to Tilley Pond Park.
Children and their parents or caregivers walk or use non-motorized devices (bikes, scooters, strollers, wagons, floats). Participants may decorate their vehicles before the start of the parade. Mary Ann Hall’s Music for Children will be perform in the Goodwives Shopping Center while parade participants gather before the marching begins at 10:30 a.m.
The parade should reach Tilley Pond Park around 11 a.m., and activities in the park should conclude before 1 p.m.
Police Traffic Advisory
Darien police issued the following traffic advisory on Monday, July 2:
Motorists are advised to avoid the downtown area during the parade due to traffic restrictions that could cause possible delays. The parade will step off from the Goodwives Shopping Center on Old Kings Highway North at 10:30 a.m., proceeding up Brookside Road and turning left onto the Post Road.
Kids on bikes, in wagons, sometimes in strollers, in their parents arms or by their sides, bedecked in three particular colors, accompanied by veterans, police, firefighters, fire engines and about as many American flags as people, took over downtown Darien on July Fourth morning. They marched from Goodwives Shopping Center up to the Post Road and over to West Avenue before pouring into Tilley Pond Park for the annual after-parade party, with music, food trucks and places to get temporary tattoos. This thirteenth annual event was organized by Darien VFW Post 6933. The skies stayed blue, the temperatures weren’t terribly hot in the sun and were pleasantly cool in the shade. Nature seemed perfect, and acrimonious national and state politics was kept in a straightjacket for just one day.
Starting at about 10:30 a.m., when the Push-n-Pull Parade is scheduled to step off from Goodwives Shopping Center parking lot until it arrives at Tilley Pond Park, various downtown Darien streets will be closed to regular vehicle traffic, Darien police have announced. This Google map shows the entire parade route. Here’s the full announcement from Darien Police Department:
The annual “Push-n-Pull Parade” will be held on Monday, July 4th at 10:30 AM. Motorists are advised to avoid the downtown area during the parade due to traffic restrictions that could cause possible delays. The parade will step off from the Goodwives Shopping Center on Old Kings Highway
North at 10:30 AM, proceeding up Brookside Road and turning left onto the Post Road.
Oil the bike wheels, check the tire pressure, decorate it up and get out that patriotic costume/hat/T-shirt — the annual Darien Norwalk Push-n-Pull Parade takes place on July 4. Here’s an announcement from the organizers:
To the delight of many local children and families, Darien VFW Post 6933 is proudly hosting the 12th annual July 4th Push-n-Pull Parade. In keeping with what has now become an annual tradition for Darien, the patriotic parade of children riding bikes, scooters, wagons and non-motorized vehicles will step off from Goodwives Shopping Center with a start time of 10:30 a.m. sharp. Families are encouraged to arrive at Goodwives Shopping Center from 9:45 a.m., where Mary Ann Hall’s Music for Children will entertain the waiting crowd before kick-off. The VFW is pleased to have the sponsorship support of the Rucci Law Group, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Darien Rowayton Bank, the Darien Youth Commission, Tiger Wealth Management, Dynamic Athletics, Mary Ann Hall’s Music for Children and the support of the Police Department of the Town of Darien, the Fire Departments of Darien, Noroton and Noroton Heights, and, of course, the Town of Darien.
If you can pedal it, push it, ride it scoot on it or otherwise roll it — or even just walk — you’re invited to join the annual Darien/Norwalk Push-n-Pull Parade on Saturday in downtown Darien. It’s free to join (although this year’s new sponsor, the Darien VFW Post 6933 is asking for donations for its building). You do need to be ready at the parking lot of Goodwives Shopping Center on Old Kings Highway North at 10:30 a.m. sharp on Saturday, July 4. Organizers suggest you arrive at the parking lot by 9:45 a.m.
Your vehicle, if you have one, will need to be non-motorized if you want it in the parade. There will be music at the parking lot, which may help keep some kids from getting too antsy.
