Printer Friendly Version - For 350th Celebration, Killingworth’s Throwing a Parade and Picnic

In anticipation of its 350th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Sept. 2, Killingworth has placed American flags along Route 81 from Killingworth Elementary School to Stevens Road. “We haven’t had flags there before, but from now on we’ll put them up each year for the patriotic holidays,” said Killingworth First Selectman Cathy Iino. “We are very grateful to the girl scouts who assembled the flag poles and to Frontier communications, which very generously mounted the flags on the utility poles for us.” Photo courtesy of Cathy Iino

From signs saturating the area to a new display of American flags along Route 81, it’s becoming clearer that Killingworth is ready to celebrate its 350th anniversary in style. The preparations lead up to the town’s 350 Years Parade and Picnic on Saturday, Sept. 2, starting at 10 a.m.

The parade, which will proceed from Stevens Road to Rocco Field at Recycle Way, will include fife and drum corps, floats, antique cars, and more.

“There will be more than 40 vintage vehicles in the parade, from tractors and fire trucks to really, really cool old cars,” said Killingworth First Selectman Cathy Iino. “There are lots of floats, two fife and drum corps, a couple of school bands and local groups represented.”

The picnic kicks off at Parmelee Farm, 465 Route 81, at noon, right after the parade.

For the first town picnic in many years, Iino said it’s a great opportunity for all current and former residents of Killingworth to come together, as well as people from neighboring towns.

“Killingworth used to have a town picnic at Deer Lake every year, however this is the first town picnic in about 15 years—and it’s going to be big one.”

For the picnic, participants are encouraged to bring a meal, though there’ll be plenty of food options on site in addition to lots of activities for all ages.

“The town picnic includes food by vendors and local organizations, hikes led by the land trust, booths and demonstrations, even a dunk tank,” said Iino, noting that she may make a dunk tank appearance herself. “The Haddam-Killingworth Youth & Family Services team will run old-fashioned games, including a three-legged race and corn hole toss. The Killingworth Citizen of the Year will be named between 3:30 and 4 p.m.; and there is music and stage entertainment including Braiden Sunshine, a semi-finalist on The Voice; a barbershop quartet and the String of Pearls big band performing in the evening.”

Parking for the picnic is $5 at the Haddam-Killingworth Middle School and Killingworth Elementary Scool (KES). Parking at KES will be available from noon on. There will be shuttles running every 30 minutes from KES and Recycle Way/Rocco Field to Parmelee Farm. The picnic will follow the parade at Parmelee Farm, running from noon to 9 p.m.