MONTAGUE — A Christmas-themed boat parade around Barton’s Cove will be the first part of “Christmas in July” on Saturday night, to be followed by a fireworks show that some say is better than the Fourth of July fireworks at Greenfield’s Beacon Field.
“I think they’re better than Beacon’s, but I’m biased,” said Sharon Constantine, who chairs the Franklin County Boat Club’s planning committee for Christmas in July.
Although many people only see the parade and fireworks the Franklin County Boat Club organizes at the end of the day, for club members the event involves a whole day of activities, including a lunchtime visit from Santa, arriving on a pontoon.
The parade and fireworks display is viewable from Unity Park in Turners Falls. Fireworks start at dusk, around 9 p.m., according to Turners Falls RiverCulture’s schedule of events.
For members of the Franklin County Boat Club, the boat parade is also a competition. There are typically six to 12 entrants, some of whom spend months decorating their boats to be judged during the parade, Constantine said.
Until last year, Christmas in July had been organized by former Boat Club Commodore Chuck Reum and his wife, Janice, Constantine said. After Reum died in January 2018, she said the club had to form a committee to reproduce all the organizational work.
The event continues to grow, and each year the parade and fireworks draw an even bigger crowd than the year before, Constantine said.
“It’s impressive now how many people are (at Unity Park),” she said. “The noise is amazing.”
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 261.