Middlesex County Volunteers

13 March 2004 - Newport, RI St. Patrick's Day Parade

MCV started out the season on a chilly St. Patrick's Day with a huge crowd lining the streets of Newport, RI.

10 April 2004 - Bedford Liberty Pole Capping

An annual tradition, the town of Bedford holds a ceremony where a liberty cap is placed on a pole in defiance of the British. Of course, the British showed up to spoil the fun...

10 April 2004 - Concord: Meriam's Corner

The next stop after Bedford was Concord, with a short parade to a field that was the site of a skirmish between British troops and colonists.

10 April 2004 - Lincoln: Paul Revere Capture Site

The final stop on the day's tour of historical sites was the site in Lincoln where Paul Revere was captured briefly at the end of his famous ride.

17 April 2004 - Concord Patriots Ball

They sure know how to party in Concord... They start with a formal event at the Concord Armory featuring two fife and drum corps and finish with a parade through town at midnight.

18 April 2004 - Lincoln Fife and Drum Salute

19 April 2004 - Concord Patriot's Day Parade

19 April 2004 - Lexington Patriot's Day Parade

1 May 2004 - William Diamond Muster

30 May 2004 - Charlestown, RI Memorial Day Parade

31 May 2004 - Andover Memorial Day Parade

31 May 2004 - Medford Memorial Day Parade

6 June 2004 - Northampton 350th Anniversary Parade

12 June 2004 - Warwick, RI: Gaspee Day Parade

13 June 2004 - Charlestown: Bunker Hill Parade

27 June 2004 - Swampscott Parade

3 July 2004 - Boston Harborfest: Roving Performances

MCV in City Hall Plaza, and the Granary Burying Ground, and Boston Common, and the Old State House, and Old City Hall, and the Granary Burying Ground, and Old City Hall, and the Old State House, and the Granary Burying Ground, and Old City Hall... And on the Harborfest posters, and t-shirts, and mugs, and brochures... If that wasn't enough...

3 July 2004 - Boston Harborfest: Old City Hall Concert

After a day of roving performances with half the corps, the entire corps got together in the evening for a standing room only (if that) concert at Old City Hall.

4 July 2004 - Boston 4th of July Parade

After leaving Boston for just long enough to get some sleep, MCV was back the next morning for Boston's 4th of July parade, followed by a brief performance outside Faneuil Hall. A break for lunch, a uniform change, and it was on to the next parade...

4 July 2004 - Wakefield 4th of July Parade

MCV unveiled its new summer uniforms at the second 4th of July parade of the day. You might think that this would be enough for one weekend, but MCV was back in Boston for another day of roving performances the next day (without me, so I have no pictures).

10 July 2004 - Ancient Mariners' Muster

Not wasting any time after the long 4th of July weekend, it was off to Old Saybrook, CT for a muster.

16-17 July 2004 - Deep River Ancient Muster

Deep River - the largest muster of the year. With over 70 groups in all, MCV was 36th. The weather was great (a bit warm, but not too bad), except for a brief 45-minute torrential downpour. Which just happened to correspond exactly to our time in the parade... MCV hosted two Swiss corps, the Rhine River Rebels and the 21st Grey Coat Battalion. The muster field was still a bit muddy by the time everyone went on stand, but it was still quite a show.

25 July 2004 - DNC Boston Pops Concert

The Boston Pops put on a show in City Hall Plaza to kick off the 2004 Democratic National Convention. MCV was invited to play "Doodletown Fifers" with the Pops in the first of three appearances.

29 July 2004 - DNC Boston Pops Concert

You wouldn't know it from the news reports, but MCV once more took the stage at the Boston Pops concert during "Doodletown Fifers" on the 29th. They were immediately followed by James Taylor.

27-28 August 2004 - Westbrook Muster

Another muster (and MCV's first appearance here since 1998), but this time MCV played at the Friday night tattoo in addition to the usual Saturday events.

12 September 2004 - Sutton 300th Anniversary Parade

MCV was the first group to go - in section 7 of 7... After a 2 hour wait (and several false starts), we finally got going.

25 September 2004 - Sudbury Colonial Faire & Muster

The last muster of the year was in Sudbury MA. There was a short parade (with rather poor traffic control) before groups went on stand. MCV was number 4, so it was a short day compared to the other musters.

31 October 2004 - Woburn Halloween Parade

All kinds of strange people in costumes showed up in Woburn, and MCV wasn't about to be left out. This was also the debut performance of the new backup Drum Major.

21 November 2004 - Haverhill Christmas Parade

A cold, wet, cloudy day in late November - sounds perfect for a parade!

4 December 2004 - Williamsburg Dress Rehearsal

They're getting ready to play in the first of two Christmas concerts in the 2004 season while I'm trying to figure out how to get all the photo and video equipment set up...

4 December 2004 - Williamsburg Christmas Concert

And now here's the concert itself. I even managed to get video of most of it (despite some technical difficulties...).

5 December 2004 - Williamsburg Visitor Center (Outside)

A new day in Williamsburg and a new location for performances. First a full corps performance outside the Visitor Center...

5 December 2004 - Williamsburg Visitor Center (Inside)

...then a small group performance inside. CDs were also available for purchase, with free autographs from random fifers and drummers hanging around.

5 December 2004 - Williamsburg Grand Illumination

The Williamsburg trip wrapped up with Grand Illumination, a huge outdoor event with music and other entertainment on multiple stages before and after a fireworks show. The night ended with a four corps traffic jam, with the color guard trapped in the middle temporarily (oops...).

12 December 2004 - Concord Christmas Concert

MCV closed out the year back home with another Christmas concert in Concord.