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Ivoryton Fourth of July Parade

What do weather and teenage crushes have in common? They can be fickle. Just ask Mary Ellen Barnes, the Director of Park & Recreation in Essex. She is hoping for good weather for the Ivoryton Fourth of July Parade, but the record this year is not encouraging.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Essex was postponed this spring because of rain. When it poured on the rescheduled day a week later, the parade was called off for good. Then there was the Essex Easter Egg Hunt. It did go on—despite the fact that it was snowing. And last year’s Fourth of July parade in Ivoryton also got canceled because of heavy rain.

That means Ivoryton Playhouse Executive Director Jacqueline Hubbard, who was supposed to be grand marshal last year, will get her chance as grand marshal this year—if the weather holds. She’s not so sure. Recently Hubbard predicted that as long as she is slated to be grand marshal, the sun won’t shine.

Cotty Barlow, head of the parade organizing committee, has a different view.

“It’s definitely going to be good weather,” he said.

He already envisions Hubbard riding in a horse-drawn carriage in the line of march. When Herb and Sherry Clark were grand marshals several years ago, they started the tradition of the horse-drawn vehicle. The Clarks continue to provide support to hire the carriage.

This is the third year Barlow has headed the parade organizers. He took over from Susan Beckmann under whose leadership the parade started.

“I do it because I am a spirited old Yankee and a patriotic curmudgeon,” he explained.

The parade will step off from Cheney Street in Ivoryton at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. This year, since July 4 is a Saturday, Friday, July 3 is a government holiday, but the parade is sticking to the traditional date for Independence Day. There will be a color guard from the local VFW and two fife and drum bands—the Company of Fifers and Drummers from Deep River and the Liberty Fife and Drum Corps from Monroe. Barlow said a contingent from Our Lady of Sorrows church was also planning to march.

Still the heart of the parade is the people who show up with tractors to drive and youngsters who decorate their bicycles or simply march in costume. Cyclists, marchers, and tractor drivers don’t need to register ahead of time. All that is required is to show up at the staging area on Cheney Street in Ivoryton at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the parade.

“The more the merrier. It’s a local event, open to everyone,” Barlow said. “It’s a small New England town parade; you can’t mess it up.”

In case of rain, the Fourth of July parade will be canceled, but not the ceremonies on the Green. Fourth of July Ceremonies on the Ivoryton Green will follow the parade, with Essex resident Norm Rutty, in colonial dress, reading selections from the Declaration of Independence.

The Ivoryton Green will be a busy place. Because it is a Saturday, the summer farmer’s market will be in full swing and, at the same time, there will be a community picnic.

“Like a block party, [the picnic is] a chance to get to know people in the Ivoryton community,” said Kathryne Wright, who owns the Hammered Edge.

Wright will set up two large tables so people can bring food to share. The Ivoryton Tavern and Blue Hound Cookery will also sell food. The farmer’s market, which will sponsor live music for the occasion, runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The picnic will continue until 2 p.m.

Ivoryton Fourth of July Parade

Starts at 10 a.m. down Ivoryton Main Street; ceremonies follow on the Ivoryton Green. Marchers, bicycle riders, and tractors form up at Cheney Street at 9:30 a.m.

The Ivoryton Farmer’s Market runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Community Picnic on the Ivoryton Green runs until 2 p.m.