Celebrate spring, “Essex forever,” and the kick-off to a year of commemorating 50 years of Park & Recreation with Essex Go Bragh 2017 on Saturday, March 11.

“The parade is a spin-off of ‘Erin go bragh,’ or ‘Ireland forever,’” said Park & Recreation Director Maryellen Barnes. “It’s a celebration of spring and Irish heritage, and a great way to get everyone outside after the winter blahs.”

Dorothy Goss, the founder of the volunteer Park & Recreation Commission that then grew into a fully fledged, staffed department, will be this year’s grand marshal. The 50th birthday of the department is officially Monday, March 27.

“There will be a Park & Recreation float, and we’ve invited all members since 1967 to ride it,” said Barnes. “The department has matured in a really positive way. Commissions usually start with volunteers who see a need in the community. In this case, in 1967, there were no kids programs. So this group of volunteers started the summer camp and tennis program.

“Now we offer thousands of hours of programming, things of local interest, events, festivals, concerts, and manage the parks. It’s grown into a department from a lot of volunteer work. We didn’t even have a full-time Park & Recreation staff until about 8 to 10 years ago,” continued Barnes. “We had commissioners and chairmen who mowed the grass, and we still depend on a large group of volunteers.”

Barnes sees this year’s parade not only as a celebration of the commission and department over the years, but as a celebration of the volunteerism that has allowed the organization to support the community over 50 years.

“We strive to be a community where people can work where their passions lay, and have fun in a manageable way. We’re always looking for more volunteers,” said Barnes. “Our local students also step up a lot—they volunteer at camp, different events, they come doing face painting, carve pumpkins in the fall, and clean up the parks. That’s the real thing to be celebrated—not only the spring, but the community and the volunteers.”

According to Barnes, this parade is one of the larger events put on by the department each year. About 25 groups are expected to participate, either driving or marching in the parade. Some of the organizations participating include Homeward Bound, the Essex Elementary School Green Team, Bushy Hill Nature Center, the Essex Community Fund, Essex Steam Train, local Girl and Boy Scouts, the Shoreline Basic Needs Task Force, the Color Guard, and the Sailing Masters of 1812. Local selectmen, State Representative Bob Siegrist (R-36), and State Senator Art Linares, Jr. (R-33) will also participate.

After the parade, there will be a face painter from Bohemian Body Art, horse wagon rides from Allegra Farms, and make-your-own tambourines with the Community Music School. Mulkerin School of Irish Dancing will put on an Irish step dance demo, and the Griswold Inn will have live music and a glass etcher on site.

“I really think it’s just getting out after a long winter, not that this one has been a bad one,” said Barnes about the parade’s popularity in the community, “but that first bit of green gets people’s blood flowing.

The parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. from Town Hall, and decorated tractors, cars, and bikes are welcome to join the fun. For more information, contact Essex Park and Recreation at 860-767-4340 ext. 110.