The Mary Wade Home parade is Friday in New Haven

NEW HAVEN - The Mary Wade Home will hold its 4th annual parade to celebrate Fair Haven and Homecoming Weekend from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday.
About 700 parade guests will be marching in the parade including local and state-wide dignitaries involving, state Sen. Martin Looney, state Rep. Roland Lemar, both D-New Haven, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Mayor John DeStefano, New Haven Superintendent of Schools Reginald Mayo, and many city officials and local community leaders, organizers said in a statement.

Check out coverage of last year's parade.

"David V. Hunter, CEO of Mary Wade, is proud to host the largest parade in the history of Mary Wade," the statement said.
“Parade participants have more than doubled and hail from 10 of New Haven’s local schools," Hunter said, also in the statement. "It is a great way to celebrate Mary Wade’s commitment to the community for over 145 years and  have our residents enjoy the talent that exists among our youth.”
Those in vehicles will include the New Haven Library Bookmobile, UI Chevy Volt Electric car, a city of New Haven Public Works crew, New Haven police and fire departments, a military vehicle driven by Master Sgt. James Mitchelle who is a neighbor and family member of a Mary Wade resident, Hunter’s Ambulance and Cherry Hill Construction, the statement said.
The parade steps off from Chatham Square.
Mary Wade residents will be entertained on Pine Street, in front of Mary Wade, and the parade will continue on Atwater, Grand and Clinton Avenues to entertain residents of the Fair Haven community, the statement said. An additional stop will be made in front of the Atwater Senior Center. 
A party will take place in the gardens of Mary Wade immediately following the parade, the statement said.  "A local resident who has exhibited leadership in the Fair Haven Community will be the recipient of The Mary Wade Community Award.  Assistant Chief Casanova was the first award recipient, followed by Lee Cruz, a Fair Haven resident and local leader," the statement said.
Mary Wade invites all members of the Fair Haven Community to come out for the parade,  line the streets and enjoy the parade in honor of Homecoming Weekend, the statement said.
"Homecoming Weekend was established by Leading Age, a national healthcare organization, to provide opportunities for elders to share and remember their youth while bringing diverse members of the community together in celebration of the Memorial Day Weekend,."
Local businesses that have donated to the event include Janelle’s, Rocco’s and Apicella’s bakery providing cookies, Grand Apizza, Abate’s, Zino’s, Planet Pizza, Little Caesar’s, and Liberty pizza providing pizzas for the event and Home Depot and Lowe’s providing the water, the statement said
"Special thanks to P. Diana & Sons for the ice to keep everyone cool in the summer heat."

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. In the photo: Members of the Nation Drill Squad and Drum Corps march in the 3rd annual Mary Wade Home Parade along Pine Street in front of the home. Photo-Peter Casolino/New Haven Register