Parade Start Time: Sept 09, 2023 – 12:00 pm
Join Us for the 2nd Annual Mermaid and Sea Monsters Parade
When: Saturday, September 9, 12:00 pm
Where: State Street ( below Washington Street) to Bank Street
Parade will be announced by Franco (K-Hits) from Parade Plaza (corner of Bank and State Streets). The Judges for the Awards will also be there.
We have free face painting and costumes for kids (of all ages) that want to march in the Parade. Meet us on Washington Street from 10:30 – 11:30.
Join us as we celebrate the MARITIME FOLKLORE OF CONNECTICUT with marching bands, dancers, floats and lots of mermaids and sea monsters!
Did you know that both sea serpents and mermaids were reported sighted in Long Island Sound at Lordship Point, Stratford as late as the 1800’s and early 1900’s.
2023 Grand Marshal: Andrea Marcille
Andrea Marcille assumed the role of the President of the United States Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association in 2015 after retiring from active duty in 2014. She served more than 25 years in the Coast Guard and was a 1989 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy where she received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. For the last nine years of her service she came back to the Academy as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Leadership Development Center and Cadet Training. During her Coast Guard career, she split her time with assignments at sea for four tours, including serving as Commanding Officer of USCGC PEA ISLAND and Executive Officer on the Barque EAGLE, and several assignments within the Coast Guard Training System.
She served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2009-2012, where she was involved in the execution of the Association’s first major fundraising campaign—the Leadership 44 Project to provide eight sailing vessels to support the Coastal Sail Training Program, a key experience in the CGA Leader Development Program. She was also involved in the creation of the USCG Women’s Leadership Initiative, supporting mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities for Coast Guard women and alumni. In 2015 CAPT Marcille completed a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
OpSail Connecticut welcomes CAPT Marcille and her support of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival.
2023 Jr. Marshal: Levi Chappelle
At 5 years old Levi told his mother he wanted to “clean the ocean”. With the help of his mom and community organizations, the 1st organized cleanup for Downtown New London on 06/26/12019 resulted in 40 people picking up over 140 lbs. of trash. Levi has volunteered at the free Gales Ferry Thanksgiving celebration with people who didn’t have anyone to spend the holiday with and continues sharing meals with the needy when he travels. With his birthday money and help from friends, family and a host of donors, Levi assembled 160 “blessing bags” (70 male, 70 female & 20 children’s bags) to hand out to people at the city’s soup kitchen, the New London Community Meal Center. The family created an assembly line to fill each bag with 2 pairs of wool socks, hats, gloves, scarves, a blanket, toiletries etc.
Levi was named “Ambassador of New London” at 5 years old. Levi’s mission from the beginning has been to keep trash/litter from the ocean, beaches, parks and streets.
In August 2019, the CT Maritime Heritage Festival connected Levi’s Clean Up Crew with sailors from the U.S.S. Sioux City during their visit to New London. The Naval “Crew” teamed up with Levi’s Clean Up “Crew” to help downtown shine.
We are honored to celebrate the achievements of Levi Chappelle as our Jr. Marshal!