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Hooker Day Parade Returns October 26

Hartford News

October 02, 2008

One of Hartford’s most distinctive events is making a comeback. On Sunday, October 26, the craziness of the Hooker Day Parade will return to the city for the first time since 2001. The parade is being organized by the Hartford Business Improvement District and former “Mayor Mike” Peters.

Peters began the parade, which is named after Hartford’s founder, Thomas Hooker, back in 1991as a way to bring some excitement to Downtown. It grew from an informal event to a city-wide celebration and helped Peters win election as mayor for the first time in 1993. This year, it will coincide with the announcement of an all new Hartford.com coming in November, 2008.

This year’s Hooker Day Parade will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Allyn Street in Downtown Hartford. It will proceed north on Allyn, then turns north on Ann Uccello Street, east on Church Street, south on Trumbull, west on Pearl, north on Ann, and west on Asylum, ending at Mayor Mike’s Restaurant.

As in year’s past, the Hooker Day Parade is designed for virtually anyone who wants to join in. If you’ve got a group of at least 10 people, goofy costumes and a theme, this is the parade for you. Participants can wear costumes, carry signs, ride decorated bicycles or construct floats that can be pulled/pushed or maneuvered Flintstone’s style down the street (with the exception of two lead vehicles, and a flat-bed truck, there will be no vehicles in the parade bigger than a golf cart). If you’ve always wanted to march in a parade but don’t have a group to march with, don’t worry, just sign up for one of the “Straggler” categories.

For more information on the Hooker Day Parade, or how to be involved, contact Jordan Polon, Hartford Business Improvement District at 728-2289 or jpolon@hartfordbid.com