Swampscott Football Serves Up Summer Tradition at Strawberry Festival

Swampscott residents lined up along Forest Avenue on Sunday to watch the Independence Day Parade go by on its way from Swampscott Middle School to the Town Hall. The parade made its way to the next celebration, the annual Strawberry Festival.

The parade began at Swampscott Middle School and made its way down Pleasant and Humphrey streets before ending at Town Hall.

Children in the Swampscott Youth Lacrosse League hold signs and throw candy from the back of a mini “Nate Photography” pickup truck || Solange Jain

Two police motorcycles opened the parade. Following them was the Big Blue football and cheerleading teams, Caponigro Demolition and Cleanouts, The Swampscott and Nahant Youth Lacrosse League, costume performers dressed as children’s television and movie characters, the Tony Barrie Band, the Anchor Food Pantry, and several other walking participants.

“It’s a tradition every year,” said Laura Malley, a Swampscott resident since 2017. “We get to come out and see our friends walking in the parade and just like enjoy a good start to the summer.”

The Tony Barrie Band marches down Forest Ave || Solange Jain

Malley, along with her two children, Jack and Maggie, ages 9 and 6 respectively, and other friends were in front of their homes on Pleasant Street after the parade had passed, collecting candy that had been thrown off of floats as the parade went by.

When asked what his favorite part of the parade was, Jack replied, “The candy!”

The children also got to watch some of their friends from school walk in the parade as a part of their after-school activities. Jack had two friends on the lacrosse team and Maggie saw her friends walk with the Girl Scouts.

Seven-year-old Finn got to watch his older brother walk with the lacrosse team, alongside his mother, Kasia Hatfield.

The Swampscott Historical Society rides in rowboat-shaped float, with reenactors dressed as revolutionary war heroes || Solange Jain

Once the crowd arrived at the festival, they were met with rows of food trucks and vendors, but the most iconic booth was run by the Swampscott High School football team.

Since 1987, players have served up the Big Blue’s signature strawberry shortcake to raise funds for the Gridiron Club. This year, the team aimed to sell 600 desserts at $5 apiece, hoping to raise $3,000.

“We are here every year, raising money for the coaches and players,” said Kristen Riddell, a booster parent with the Gridiron Club. “We recently bought headsets for the coaches.”

Riddell emphasized that the players do all the heavy lifting.

“All of the players are involved. We’re only here to supervise,” Riddell said. “They cut every single strawberry. They serve it to the customers. They’re the ones getting their hands dirty.”

She also gave credit to local grocery stores that helped support the effort.

“We’re thankful to Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Market Basket and Shaw’s for their generous food and gift card donations,” Riddell said.

The Swampscott cheer team ran a scratch ticket raffle nearby, adding to the fundraising efforts.

Food lovers had plenty of options to choose from, including Isabella’s Ice Cream, Crêpe du Jour, Chicken and the Pig, The Whoo(pie) Wagon, Hungry Nomads, Grab the Bagel, Joe’s on a Roll, YumTastic, and TJ’s Taste. Other booths included Sandmagination, Washington Beach Designs, Rex Wraps, Foster MA, the Swampscott Historical Society, and the YMCA of the North Shore.

The family-friendly event ran from 4 to 8 p.m., with live music from the Brian Maes Band beginning at 6 p.m.