Among the giant balloons, marching bands and entertainers, spectators attending the 29th annual Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular will be treated to the familiar faces of many respected members of the community.
One float in particular is a perpetual favorite, this year carrying two admired teachers on a float themed to their specific endeavors within the classroom.
Donna Kaiser, a science teacher at Stamford High School and Stamford’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, and Jon Ringel, an English and journalism teacher also at Stamford High School and Stamford’s 2022 Teacher of Year, will be riding on one of the parade’s floats, entitled “News! News! and Molecules.”
Donna Kaiser began her professional career as a cosmetic chemist and spent a decade in pharmaceuticals before transitioning to education. Donna taught in New York and Greenwich for seven years before joining SHS as a science teacher in 2008. She teaches chemistry as well as sponsoring an ACS accredited chemistry club, Red Cross club, and she coordinates Engineering Tomorrow STEM program for the district.
Jon Ringel is an English and journalism teacher at Stamford High School, which happens to be his own alma mater. For the last 10 years, Ringel has also advised the school’s award-winning online newspaper, The Round Table. In his spare time, he enjoys striped bass fishing and playing music with his band.
The parade, taking place on Sunday, November 20, is one of the largest of its kind in the country, with giant helium balloons and more than 100,000 spectators annually. This parade is hosted by Stamford Downtown Special Services District.
This year’s planned parade highlights include 14 giant balloons with favorites such as Abby Cadabby©, Bob the Builder©, Clifford the Big Red Dog©, Daniel Tiger©, Gingerbread Boy, Mr. Potato Head©, Octonauts©, Peppa Pig©, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer©, Scooby-Doo©, Shrek© and Snowman. In addition to the procession’s signature balloons, the streets will also be filled with fabulous floats and dance groups, and marching bands including the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band, the Fairfield County Police Pipes and Drums and high school groups from Stamford, Westhill, Trumbull, Uniondale, and Brentwood.
Colin Cosell, Public Address Announcer for the New York Mets and New York Riptide will be the parade’s Master of Ceremonies for the first time this year.
The parade is scheduled to begin at noon on November 20 at the intersection of Summer Street at Hoyt Street and conclude on Atlantic Street, just a few short blocks from the Stamford Metro-North Railroad Station.
On the eve of the parade, a Balloon Inflation Party presented by Point72 will be held on Saturday, November 19 from 3:00-6:00pm at the intersection of Hoyt Street and Summer Street in Stamford Downtown. This pre-parade event will allow spectators a behind-the-scenes look at the balloons as they come to life and offer music, parade talent, cartoon characters and a meet and greet with Santa.
Stamford Downtown Special Services District is responsible for creating, managing and promoting a quality environment for people, which enhances the economic vitality of Stamford Downtown.
