For those looking to head down Philadelphia Avenue or Johnson Avenue from the Virginia Avenue side of town Friday around 7 a.m., you will have to sit in traffic for a while.

 

There are no projects taking place or trees being cleared. Rather, it is the annual Bridgeport High School Senior Parade.

 

For those that do not know, the parade has taken place for years and involves a unique variety of transportation modes. In years past there have been horses, convertibles of all types, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and much more.

 

“The seniors really look forward to it,” said Bridgeport School Resource Officer Jamie Hamrick. “It is a rite of passage almost as much as senior assembly or the baccalaureate.”

 

On Friday (May 20), Hamrick said Bridgeport Police will have traffic heading toward the school from the Virginia Avenue intersection with Philadelphia Avenue blocked starting at 7 a.m. At that time, students and their transportation will begin moving from a parking lot by the Bridgeport United Methodist Church onto Philadelphia Avenue before their final trek along Johnson Avenue and into the BHS parking lot.

 

“We try to be as least disruptive to the morning traffic flow as possible,” said Hamrick. “It is usually around 20 minutes at the longest, but we’ll go as long as takes to get the participants in the street, follow them, and make sure they get to the high school.”

 

As if often the case, Hamrick will lead the way. She said to help speed things up, she’s looking to outlaw 5CC riding lawnmowers that don’t have much speed.

 

Hamrick said parents and the community are encouraged to attend the event.

 

“It is usually very well attended even with it being so early,” said Hamrick. “It’s a lot of fun, and we want to make it as safe as possible by letting the community no ahead of time what to expect Friday morning.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Officer Jamie Hamrick handling traffic near the schools on Johnson Avenue, while bottom photo shows students from the Class of 2021 enjoying the Senior Parade. Bottom photo by Ben Queen of Ben Queen Photography.