Published in the May 23, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Family and friends of Wakefield Memorial High School’s Class of 2017 will have an opportunity to photograph the students and their prom dates during the traditional grand march before the May 31 senior prom thanks to The Savings Bank, sponsor of the march.
This is the 20th consecutive year that The Savings Bank has sponsored the popular event that starts at 5:30 p.m. on Wakefield’s Veterans’ Memorial Common.
As the sponsor, The Savings Bank provides a disc jockey that plays background music and makes related announcements before and during the procession through the upper Common. The Bank also decorates the Common with balloons and provides signage and safety personnel for the event.
Residents and businesses are reminded that the grand march will require the temporary closing of Church Street from Common Street to Main Street. Students will assemble at the First Parish Congregational Church by 4:30 p.m. Limousines and other vehicles used to transport the students to the prom will be parked on Church Street between the upper and lower commons. When completed, the students will go to their limousines/vehicles and proceed North on Main Street to the prom.
All students who attend the prom at the Danversport Yacht Club must participate in the grand march. Additional information about the event has been sent to parents in a mailing from Wakefield Memorial High School.
Parents and friends are asked to park on adjacent streets in the downtown area. Police officers will be stationed at various locations and intersections. A letter will also be sent to neighbors in the weeks before the event. Residents are reminded that the one-hour parking restriction will be lifted during the event, and that they should not park in areas posted NO PARKING.
In the event of inclement weather, the grand march will be held in the Wakefield Memorial High School Field House at 5:30 p.m. If the weather is questionable, school administrators will make the decision whether to hold the grand march in the field house on the day of the prom. Information will be posted via School Messenger at 1 p.m.
“The Savings Bank is pleased to sponsor this wonderful event for the members of the Class of 2017, their dates and their families,” Bob DiBella, president of The Savings Bank said. “This is a great event that has become one of the memorable traditions of senior year and a highly-anticipated event for the community.”
