Grafton Launches Doggy Mayor Contest, Bike Decorating for July 4 Parade
With Independence Day a week away, the Town of Grafton is promoting its annual 4th of July Parade and encouraging residents to get involved — while the Grafton Public Library reminds patrons it will be closed July 3 and 4 in observance of the holiday.
TOWN HALL
The town's website is spotlighting two parade-related opportunities ahead of the July 4 celebration. Residents who want to march or ride are invited to decorate bikes and other entries at the starting point at North Street Elementary School, where free red, white, and blue decorations will be available. The town is also running a "Doggy Mayor" competition: pet owners whose dogs tend to run the household are encouraged to enter their four-legged bosses in the contest during this year's festivities.
A road construction update is also posted on the town's homepage, though full details were not available in this cycle.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Grafton Public Library will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day — a heads-up worth noting for patrons who rely on weekend hours. The library's summer reading program, themed "Plant a Seed — Read!," is underway for all ages. Drop-in cribbage continues every Friday for adults, and the Massachusetts Center for the Book's 2026 Reading Challenge is the featured June activity.
SCHOOLS
Grafton Public Schools has posted details for two summer technology pickup sessions. Incoming sixth-graders can collect their Chromebooks this summer; separately, new Grafton High School students and all entering ninth-graders have iPad deployment sessions scheduled. Parents with questions are directed to click the respective headlines on the district website at graftonps.org. Kindergarten registration for the 2026–2027 school year remains open, and the district's 2026 Summer Enrichment Program — described as offering hands-on learning, artistic expression, and STEAM exploration — is available for families interested in summer programming.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
Grafton Patch is highlighting upcoming local holiday events in its morning digest: "🌱 Patch AM: 4th of July Parade and 11 more events" rounds up a dozen things happening in and around town this week, including the July 4 parade itself. Per Grafton Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton).
Earlier this week, Patch also covered a milestone for local athletics: "🌱 Patch AM: How Grafton baseball finally earned that elusive home playoff game" looks at the Grafton baseball team's path to hosting a postseason contest. Per Grafton Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/grafton).
COMING UP
- **Sunday, June 28:** Grafton Girls Softball and Grafton Women's Softball at Nelson Fields 1, 2, and 3 - **Monday, June 29:** Board of Health meeting; Tone and Stretch and Fall Prevention programs in the gym - **Friday, July 3:** Grafton Public Library closed (Independence Day observance) - **Saturday, July 4:** Grafton Public Library closed; Annual 4th of July Parade (starting point: North Street Elementary School) - **Wednesday, July 2:** Worcester Annual Independence Day Celebration and Fourth of July Fireworks near Shrewsbury (regional) - **Fridays ongoing:** Drop-in cribbage at Grafton Public Library