International Homecoming Festival Parade Crosses Border After Near Cancellation

The International Homecoming Festival parade, an over half-century-old tradition linking the border towns of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and Calais, Maine, nearly did not go ahead in 2025 Yet on Saturday afternoon in early August, crowds lined the streets on both sides of the St. Croix River as the parade rolled forward, affirming one of the most visible symbols of cross-border friendship.

In the months leading up to the festival, organizers faced mounting challenges. Declining participation, logistical hurdles, and questions of cost had raised the possibility that the parade would be cancelled. At one point, local officials in St. Stephen discussed replacing the Canadian side of the parade with a smaller-scale community street fair. The uncertainty led many residents to worry that a defining piece of the week-long celebration might be lost.

Support from volunteers and community groups ultimately tipped the balance. In the days before the event, enough entries came forward to form a parade, including marching bands, fire departments, youth organizations, cultural performers, and decorated floats representing local businesses. The binational flavour remained central, with Canadian and American groups alternating positions along the route.

The parade began in Calais, crossed the Ferry Point Bridge under the watch of both U.S. and Canadian border officers, and continued through downtown St. Stephen. Spectators waved flags from both countries, with children scrambling for candy tossed from floats. The familiar rhythm of drums and horns, coupled with cheers from the crowd, reinforced the sense of continuity that many feared would be interrupted this year.

Local leaders acknowledged the difficulties but celebrated the outcome. They noted that while the festival program had to be adjusted, the decision to proceed with the parade reflected the persistence of volunteers and the commitment of participants who stepped forward at the last moment.

The event also carried symbolic weight in a year when both towns are navigating economic and social pressures. For many residents, the sight of the parade crossing the international bridge once again highlighted the longstanding ties that define the International Festival, now in its 50-plus years of existence.