Community Corner

Today's Swampscott Strawberry Festival Is A Red, White and Blue Affair

The Strawberry Festival is Sunday at 4 pm on the Town Hall lawn. Thirty minutes later, at 4:30 p.m., the July 4th parade steps off from Congregation Shirat Hayam and marches to Town Hall.

 

Swampscott's is a red, white and blue tradition.

Red is the color of the strawberries served on biscuits on the lawn.

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White is the color of the whipped cream that tops the strawberry shortcakes.

Blue is the color that represents the Big Blue football boosters and players who serve those red and white shortcakes.

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Pair the shortcakes with a hometown parade, serve both year after year, and a tradition forms.

The Swampscott tradition includes the seniors riding on a parade float.

It includes demonstrating routines they will perform in the coming school year.

It includes younger football players and cheerleaders serving strawberry shortcakes.

Throw in late afternoon sunlight, green grass and a festive mood and local color emerges.

The strawberry shortcake line opens at 4 pm and continues until the 500 or so shortcakes are served.

Sometimes the police station gets calls towards the end of the festival from people at home wondering if any shortcakes are left.

The parade steps off from on Atlantic Ave. at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, marching to Town Hall.

A local Girl Scout color guard will lead the parade, this being the 100th anniversary of the scouts.

Marchers will include kids on sports team, firefighters, police, selectmen and members of other town boards and committees.

Look for some vintage vehicles in the parade.

Town Moderator Joe Markarian will trail the field in his classic car with Janell Cameron of the Recreation Commission aboard.

 

 


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