MARBLEHEAD — Over the last two weeks, the town of Marblehead collected Christmas trees in preparation for Monday evening’s annual bonfire held at Riverhead Beach.
Locals of all ages made their way to claim a spot lining the barricade around the trees. Children and adults alike were all in awe of the number of trees that curated this year’s pile.
As 6 p.m. neared, the suited-up firefighters began pulling out the flares and making their way behind the pile. As they lit the flares, onlookers began shouting, “Throw them in! Light it up!”
Once the flares were thrown in, the backside of the pile quickly ignited. It was about five minutes later the pile of trees was fully engulfed in flames casting a bright orange light upon every face in the crowd.
The heat coming from the flames was easily felt as the fire continued to grow. Firefighter Liam Gilliland even had a temperature reader that measured the temperature of the fire which read more than 1,000 degrees.
One local fascinated with the physics of the bonfire said, “Suddenly there’s a heatwave that permeates your entire body, then it sways back to the other side.”
A tradition that has gone on for decades in Marblehead was once again shared among family and friends.
A father and son duo, Brian Lucas and son John attended the bonfire, John attending for his first year despite his father having attended for decades.
Brian said, “It’s a great Marblehead tradition that brings out the town and everyone to gather in the middle of the winter and cold.” Brian later added he’s been coming to this annual tradition since the late 80s.
Despite taking a few-year hiatus back around 2010 the tradition continues in the historic coastal town and locals can expect it for years to come.
