SAUGUS — A COVID-era tradition will live on this year with the return of a car parade to honor the town’s 2021 graduates.
Put on with the help of the Saugus School Committee, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David DeRuosi, and High School Principal Michael Hashem, the event was born last spring with the hope of giving Saugus’ class of 2020 a heartfelt, but socially-distanced, send-off.
School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge said several parents who enjoyed the idea have since reached out to him to inquire about whether or not the district planned to bring the parade back, noting car parades have grown increasingly popular in other districts as well.
“Some of the kids I’ve seen around are very excited about it,” Whittredge said. “I saw another town hadn’t done a parade last year during COVID, but they’re doing one this year. They probably see that other towns are doing it and having fun with it.
“It doesn’t need to be a COVID thing. It’s a fun thing and a new tradition.”
Last year, Whittredge said 149 out of 160 students and their families participated in the event, coming out in droves with their cars draped in red to represent Sachem pride.
“We had a great turnout last year. We had hundreds of people on the side of the road, and I’m hoping to have even more this year,” he said. “Now that we have fewer restrictions, people can get out there without masks on and put up some signs to show support for these kids, because they definitely deserve that much.”
This year’s car parade will take place June 1. Participants are asked to gather at Blessed Sacrament church on Summer Street before 6 p.m.
Whittredge emphasized that all participating vehicles must be driven by a parent or guardian.
The parade will make its way to Appleton Street and take a right on Central Street before driving through Saugus Center, Adams Avenue, Dow, Denver and Talbot streets, and Highland Avenue. It will come to an end in the Middle-High School parking lot, where students will be greeted by a crowd of teachers and staff.
“I was blown away by how many teachers came out last year,” Whittredge said. “Through everything else, they really love their kids, and it really shows at events like this.”
He added the parade is a fantastic way to honor Saugus graduates, even post-COVID.
“We’re trying to make it a yearly tradition moving forward. No matter who’s on the committee, I’m hoping that they stick with it,” he said. “It’s a good time for the kids. Everybody keeps saying they missed out on a lot, and they did, but at the same time, we’ve tried to make some new memories for them, too.”
