Get out your hunter, Kelly, army, chartreus, seafoam, mint, emerald, sage, avocado, and spring green—it’s time for the annual Essex Go Bragh Parade and festival, which will be held in downtown Essex, on Saturday, March 9, from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The official parade portion of the day’s event will step off from the Town Hall at 10:30 a.m. sharp, it will turn on to West Avenue, before proceeding down Main Street into the heart of Essex Village, where it will disperse and the rest of the day’s activities will commence.

Included in the sea of green participants will be long time Essex residents and community volunteers John and Judy Heiser as grand marshals (see John Heiser’s Person of the Week profile on page 2), as well as the color guard, fife and drum corps, the Essex Fire Department, Essex officials, local organizations, antique cars, horse drawn carriages, and more.

“This is always a great event and one that we encourage everyone in town to get involved in,” said Tim LaChance, an aide at the Essex Parks and Recreation Department.

This year’s Go Bragh day-long event will also include kids’ professional face painting by Bohemian Body Art at Earth and Fire art Studios on Main Street, free horse-drawn carriage rides through the village of Essex given by Allegra Farms of East Haddam, Guinness etching pint glasses at the Griswold Inn, and performances by The Grey School of Irish Dancer and Mulkerin School of Irish Dance throughout the town.

This is the eighth year for this annual celebration and parade in Essex, the name of which translates literally to “Essex forever.” Its not only a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, but also an unofficial gathering to commemorate the end of winter and the coming of spring.

“People should come out to enjoy our small-town atmosphere and family friendly parade. It’s fun and the entertainment is free,” said LaChance.