CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Cheshire Boat Parade will take place Sunday with a community picnic.

 

Organizer James Bush said this is the fourth year the boat parade has officially launched and this year the parade will celebrate the town’s 225 anniversary.

 

"It’s just a fun time and a good opportunity to support the town of Cheshire’s 225th," he said. "Two hundred and twenty-five is a long time and there are a lot of hard-working people who put this together."

 

The 225 Committee has organized a yearlong celebration with multiple events marking the milestone.

 

Bush said the boats shove off at 1 p.m. from the boat launch.

 

"We are going to do two and a half laps around the lake," he said. "The Cheshire Fire Department is going to be at the causeway with their water cannon arching the water out over the lake and we are going to drive underneath it."

 

He said this year the boats will be decorated and judged. There will be winners for most patriotic, most original, and best decorated.

 

"A lot of us have done it in the past but this year we are encouraging everybody to do it," Bush said.

 

He said last year there were 17 boats and he expects more this year.

 

"I anticipate more this year because I know people have purchased more boats since then," he said. "We also put flyers out, so everybody knows." 

 

Bush said there will be a community picnic at the Farnum’s Road Causeway starting at noon. He said hot dogs and hamburgers will be served and children will have the opportunity to create their own boat and compete in the Raingutter race.

 

The band After Ours will provide live entertainment.

 

iBerkshires couldn't be there on Sunday but local photographer Anita Doucette Guttmann took some lovely pictures here.