A heads up about traffic and Old Home Days events this weekend

One parade-goer got into the spirit of the music and danced with a member of the South Philadelphia String Band at the Old Home Days Parade in East Hampton, CT. Photo copyright 2011 by Brenda Sullivan

If you will be driving through East Hampton, CT this weekend, please note that this is the weekend of the 2012 Old Home Days celebration – which includes a road race and a very large parade.

Be prepared for delays and detours on Route 66 on Friday July 13 and Saturday July 14.

Other roadways that will be affected include: Route 196, Main Street, North Main Street and Lake Drive.

The road race takes place today (Friday, July 13) between 7 and 8:30 p.m.

The race route is from Mott Hill Road south to Lake Drive, North Main Street, across Route 66, and onto Main Street.

All roads will be open for travel but intermittent traffic stoppages will occur between approximately 7 and 8:30 p.m.  Please be especially aware of spectators on the roads, as well as runners.

The theme of the 2012 Old Home Days parade floats will be “The Golden Age of Television.”

The Old Home Days Parade is on Saturday (July 14) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (but the roads close at 10 a.m.) The parade route is from North Maple Street (East Hampton High School) east onto Route 66, then south onto Route 196, and ends on Main Street.

This means the portion of Route 66 between North Maple Street and Route 196 will not be accessible between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  A sign-posted detour route, (staffed by officers) will be established to bypass the affected area.  [Editor's note: try to avoid this - this detour is very long, very confusing and cars are parked along the roadsides on narrow roadways, making it difficult to maneuver -- been there, done that.]

The west side of the detour will be at Route 66 and Cone Road.

The east side of the detour will be at Route 66 and Lake Drive.

You should expect heavy traffic and a lot of pedestrians on Route 66 as early as 8:30 a.m. and at the close of the parade at 1 p.m.

Posted July 13, 2012

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