Black Rock, CT - Parade Chair Phil Blagys, who has run the parade since 1994, is pleased to announce that this year’s edition of The Black Rock Day Parade will take place on Sunday, June 8th, beginning at noon and kicking off at Burroughs Center on Fairfield Ave.
Known as the “Best Small Parade in America”, this year’s event will feature the Mattatuck Fife & Drum Corps, the oldest fife & drum corps in the United States, the Black Rock Fife & Drum Corps, the Connecticut Alumni Senior Drum & Bugle Corps, The Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band, the Klein Memorial Dancers, lots of music from local bands, Amazing Andy, floats, dignitaries and much more.
The Parade Committee is also pleased to announce that Fred Haschak will serve as the 2025 Parade Grand Marshal. Fred is a retired Captain of the Bridgeport Fire Department having served for 35 years and the first member of the BFD to serve as our Grand Marshal. Fred is also a 51-year resident of Black Rock, a longtime parishioner of St. Ann’s Church and an active volunteer at the Black Rock Food Pantry. And Fred is the dutiful “keeper” of our community flags ensuring both the flag at St. Mary’s and the flag at the Grovers/Brewster park are always flying at proper staff. Last Memorial Day, you could have found Fred lowering both to half-staff at dawn and returning them to full staff at noon in keeping with a long-standing Memorial Day tradition. “Fred’s dedication to his community and his love of country are a few of his characteristics that help make Black Rock a true hidden treasure,” says Black Rock Community Council President Nina Gibson. “We are honored this year to recognize Fred and his contributions to our neighborhood."