Hooray for the Horribles

By Cameron Kittle
Staff Writer

July 04, 2009 12:10 am

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A grim forecast and drizzle may have forced the cancellation of last night's scheduled fireworks, but the dreary weather didn't stop the array of creative and festive floats from celebrating the Fourth of July weekend in fashion during the Fishtown Horribles Parade in downtown Gloucester.

Some floats even prepared for stormy conditions.

"Everything's plastic or Mylar; it's all waterproof," said Kevin Cook, coach of the Gloucester High and Middle schools' sailing team, SailGHS.

"We're ready for rain," he said, "and if a lot of rain comes, we'll just sail away."

Cook's crew tossed candy to the crowd from their newly purchased sailboat, showcasing the sailing team's second year as part of the Horribles parade.

Then, there was a 30-year-old, enormous pink elephant with American flag designs on its sides that towered over its owner's truck by at least 10 feet. Ron Strong said he bought the elephant "just for fun" when it was on sale.

Another float that drew some interesting looks from the audience was an old-time moonshine distillery with smoke billowing off of it from the effects of some dry ice.

"We started around 2 o'clock," said Bob Ryan, of Ryan & Wood Inc. Distilleries, who helped make the float for the 6 p.m. parade to promote the company's new Beauport Vodka, named for the city.

Ryan said his helping hands, Dan Finn and Dave Wood, found a two-hole outhouse in Boxford that they disassembled, drove back to Gloucester and reassembled for the parade. The whole crew wore beards, overalls and tall hats to fit in with the float's old-time image.

Music was a crowd pleaser, too; from the traditional Phillipine Heritage Band hailing from Ontario, Canada, to the rock band playing in a truck promoting state Sen. Bruce Tarr, and to Vito Ferrara's DJ skills on the back of a Tally's Hookers truck, it was an eclectic mix with something for everyone.

"I've picked some patriotic slash ... I've got to pay a little respect to Michael Jackson," said Ferrara, a Gloucester native. "It's all fun music."

There was a truck full of children wearing floppy ears and dog costumes to promote the Pathways for Children fund-raiser. "Pathways Unleashed." The group is auctioning off hand-painted ceramic dogs, including one dog painted as a mermaid by some Gloucester High School students.

"We thought we'd stick with the dog theme," said Angie Lane, a proud parent of one of the children on the Pathways float.

Historic cars were on display as well, including a black 1968 MG, a 1963 beige Studebaker Avanti with more than 400,000 miles on it, according to owner Hugh Parkhurst, and a turquoise 1976 Cadillac El Dorado carrying Mrs. Essex County, LuAnne Bonanno.

"I've driven it for 33 years, bought it new," said Cliff Elliott, driver of the El Dorado.

Steve Kaity, chairman of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, was the man behind the wheel of the MG, a car he said would help promote the chamber and be a fun addition to the parade. He said the vehicle belongs to one of the chamber's past presidents, Cape Ann Motor Inn owner Brad Pierce.

Finding parking along the parade route was chaotic — and some of it may have been illegal. Some parade watchers who wouldn't give their names said they arrived in their RVs at exactly 6 a.m., the opening time for parking on Stacy Boulevard, but added that they "weren't the first ones" in the area.

Gloucester's interim police chief, Michael Lane, could not be reached to comment on the possible parking problems, but there were dozens of bright orange "No Parking" signs seen Thursday night to deter anyone from trying to stay overnight.

Nonetheless, the floats and fun of the parade turned any stress into smiles and energized the crowd on the eve of the nation's 233rd birthday.

There was an inflatable turkey driven by a lawn mower, a couple kids dressed up as Whoopie Cushions and some yellow-clad youngsters wearing the classic Gorton's of Gloucester fisherman's raincoat to help the company celebrate its 160th year.

Tuck's Candies of Rockport also celebrated an anniversary, its 80th, and did so by showcasing a giant box of saltwater taffy in the center of its float.

"It's eight times the size of an actual box," Dan Tuck said. "It would take 500 pounds of taffy to fill it up. We've used it before, but it's a big part of we what do."

The fireworks, scheduled for 10 p.m., were canceled shortly after 5 p.m. because of the weather conditions. Officials said there is no rain date for the fireworks this weekend, but that the fireworks show will be "doubled up" when the city hosts its next scheduled fireworks display as part of the Schooner Festival on Labor Day weekend.

Cameron Kittle can be reached at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com

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