Ancient and Horribles Parade

The oldest known Ancient and Horribles Parade in New England occurred on July 4, 1851, in Lowell, Massachusetts[1] and was named as a parody of the more somber Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, the oldest military organization in the United States.

[2] Gloucester, Massachusetts, continues to have a "Horribles Parade" into the 21st century but without the satirical political dimension the costumes once held.

[3] Glocester Rhode Island's "Ancient and Horribles Parade" was founded in 1926 when Calvin Coolidge was U.S. President.

Coolidge was a member of the original Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in Boston.

"[4] The Parade features both traditional Fourth of July floats and marchers, such as veterans and fire trucks, as well as often irreverent, satirical displays commenting on political and cultural issues.