Community Corner
Strawberry Festival and Parade Both Big Hits (Video)
Hundreds poured onto the Town Hall lawn for the annual Strawberry Festival, and hundreds more lined Humphrey Street for the Fourth of July Parade Saturday afternoon.
The town ushered in the long holiday weekend Saturday with a two-step celebration — the Strawberry Festival and Fourth of July Parade.
In its 27th year, the Strawberry Festival set up shop on the lawn at the Town Hall.
Boosters, merchants, local clubs and organizations greeted visitors while rock bands pumped out tunes next to the front door of Town Hall.
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“It’s a great event, very exciting,” Police Chief Ron Madigan said after he marched down Humphrey Street Saturday afternoon.
Started by the Gridiron Club to help raise money to support Big Blue football and cheering, parents, players and cheerleaders were scooping out the strawberries, the shortcake and the whipped cream
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Lines of people two and three deep patiently waited their turn for the goodies.
Boo, a 14 year-old Hackney Cross horse was in his pen, meeting people and snacking on carrots. Boo was rescued by NEER (New England Equine Rescues).
Big Blue cheerleaders were selling T-shirts, the class of 2014 was selling pizza, and S. P. O. T. (Swampscott Park for Off-Leash Time) was in charge of the hot dogs.
Some of the merchants at tables on the lawn included Starbucks, Iris Design Decoupage, Bedazzled and Lianne Belkas of Be Blessed Beads.
Ronnie the Clown made balloon animals for the kids with help from Magic the Bunny. A long line of children waited for their balloons.
Members of the Jackson Park Playground Project were on hand, with John Picariello and Kevin Donaher at their informational table. Anyone who is interested in helping the Jackson Park Project can call Kevin at 617-512-3714.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s really a great time,” Sharon Santry of the Gridiron Club said. “We’ve been doing this since 1987 and we’re already thinking about next year’s Strawberry Festival.”
The parade featured members of the police and fire departments, the Little League All-Stars, the Girls Scouts, several marching bands, and a politician or two.
“This is great, lot of fun,” Steven Johnson said in front of the Red Rock Bistro as the parade went by. “It’s nice to just come up from the beach, sit on the curb and watch a parade, really great, it’s good every year.”
