Officers of BPOE Lodge #1481 carry the Elks banner in 2017 as they lead the first daylight Rag Shag parade. (File photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – Vampires, zombies and mummies – many accompanied by mommies – will be out in the sunshine (or at least daylight) on Saturday when the 79th annual Rag Shag parade steps off at noon from the Elks lodge at the corner of Franklin and Washington streets.
For decades the parade, sponsored by the Westfield/West Springfield Lodge #1481 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elk, was a twilight tradition in the city which saw a host of costumed characters, often accompanied by costumed parents, march through the downtown streets in
A pair of wizards march in a previous Rag Shag parade on their way to Hogwarts. (File Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
the gathering dark.
In 2017, with an eye toward the children’s safety, the parade was changed to a Saturday daytime affair which had been named the Charles Morse Memorial Rag Shag parade to honor the long time organizer of the event.
After following the Westfield High School marching band though the downtown, the children will return to the Elks’ parking lot where the children will each receive a bag of candy goodies, soda and a raffle ticket before the costume contest begins.
Children’s costumes will be judged in five age categories and there will be one category for the best adult costume. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Batwoman (Stephaie Nunez) parades a trio of little superheros – Landon, Logan and Leia Nunez – past the costume contest judges after a previous Rag Shag parade. (File photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
After the contest, the raffle winners will be chosen. Kenny Premny, the chief organizer of he parade, said this year there will be four bicycles to be won.
One girl and one boy will win a small bicycle, with training wheels, suitable for a child younger than five years-old. One boy and one girl will be chosen by the raffle to receive a bike appropriate for an older child. The older children will also win a bike helmet.
Premny said that this year the bikes and helmets were donated by individual Elks and the costume contest prizes were provided by the lodge.
Children and their adults are encouraged to gather in the parking lot behind the Elks lodge at 56 Franklin St. on Saturday in time for the noontime start .
