Guests take shade while watching the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Guests watch the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Members of the Pettipaug Junior Sailing Academy make their way past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

George Ingram, left, along with Casey Heffernan, right, learn traditional rope making under the supervision of Tiffany Swart from the Connecticut River Museum on July 4 during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

The Onrust makes its way past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

A boat makes its way past spectators, including George Ingram, right, during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

A boat makes its way past spectators, including George Ingram, right, during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

A boat makes its way past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Members of the Pettipaug Junior Sailing Academy make their way past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Heather Cassidy waves to members of the Pettipaug Junior Sailing Academy as they sail past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Members of the Pettipaug Junior Sailing Academy make their way past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

The Onrust makes its way past spectators during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade on July 4 near the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Ruby Adams, right, holds a tool used for traditional rope making under the supervision of Tiffany Swart from the Connecticut River Museum on July 4 during the Essex Independence Day Boat Parade. The Connecticut River Museum hosted the boat parade, now in its 13th year, for the first time. In addition to the parade hands on activities such as rope making were available in their Valley Ship Yard exhibit. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier