It's Yankee Doodle Homecoming!
Parade starts at 10am on Saturday (roads close at 9:45) with this years theme "heroes in literature". Parade runs from the Billerica mall to the Marshall Middle so there is plenty of space to find a viewing spot!
After the parade head over to the High School for fun, games, entertainment, food and shopping!
Later in the day head over to Marshall Middle for live entertainment from 6pm-8pm followed by fireworks!
Why is Billerica a Yankee Doodle Town?
A young farmer from Billerica named Thomas Ditson wanted to become a minuteman to help fight the British during the American Revolution. He head to Boston to try to buy a firearm. He was captured by British soldiers, tarred and feathered and paraded around town to the tune of Yankee Doodle as punishment.
Ditson survived the ordeal, later joined the minutemen and on April 19th, he along with his fellow minutemen answered the alarm and marched towards Concord and fought in the battle at Meriam's Corner.
Billerica has honored Thomas Ditson since 1991 with Yankee Doodle Homecoming.