Local communities celebrate semiquincentennial

As the United States turned 250 years old Saturday, communities across the North Shore celebrated the milestone with a weekend of parades, traditions, and family-friendly fun.

While Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Saugus, and Swampscott marked the occasion separately, all communities were united as Americans, watching the same explosions of red, white, and blue light up the evening sky.

In Lynn, the holiday weekend began Friday night as thousands gathered along Lynn Shore Drive for the city’s annual fireworks display over Nahant Bay. Festivities continued Saturday with neighborhood traditions throughout the city, including the Pine Hill Civic Association’s parade and games at Gallagher Park and the Gowdy Park Association’s annual event featuring races, pony rides, and a dunk tank.

In Lynnfield, the annual Boat Parade at Pillings Pond returned Saturday morning, as decorated boats, kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft circled the pond in a display of patriotic spirit.

Marblehead celebrated with many of its signature Fourth of July traditions, beginning Friday evening with registration for the annual Horribles Parade. Saturday’s festivities featured the beloved costume parade, the Patriotic Boat Parade, and a fireworks show over Marblehead Harbor.

In Nahant, the holiday weekend kicked off Friday with the annual Horribles Parade. Saturday brought the annual Tortoise and the Hare Road Race, field races behind the fire station, an ice cream truck, and musical performances by Mojo Slim.

Peabody lauded American independence throughout the city Saturday, with three ward-based events bringing neighbors together for patriotic parades, games, food, and entertainment. Ward 1 gathered at Cy Tenney Park, Wards 2, 3, and 4 celebrated at the Welch School, and Wards 5 and 6 hosted their first joint Fourth of July event at Symphony Park.

In Saugus, residents came together Saturday at the Saugus Iron Works for an afternoon of Revolutionary-era reenactments and entertainment. The event featured portrayals of George Washington and Parson Joseph Roby, a reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a patriotic truck contest, a reading of the Saugus residents who fought in the American Revolution, old-fashioned games, free food, music, and photo opportunities.

In Swampscott, festivities began Thursday with a reading of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” hosted by the Swampscott and Nahant Historical Societies at Swampscott Town Hall. The celebration continued Friday with the town’s annual fireworks display before concluding Saturday morning with the traditional Fourth of July races at Phillips Park.