A girl is showered by candy from Village of Marblehead officials during the Perch Festival parade in downtown Marblehead on Aug. 24. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

The 32nd Annual Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club Perch Festival kicked off with a parade in downtown Marblehead while volunteers fried the first batch of 500 pounds of perch. The festival, held at James Park, featured food, a car show, a bounce house, a climbing wall, a magic show, free Holcim Quarry tours and live music.

This year’s parade grand marshals were Curt and Maryanne Laubner, who were recognized for their decades of community service and civic involvement. Lions member Tom Henderson said that Curt impacted the lives of over 500 Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster.

Marla Hirt serves perch at the Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club Perch Festival on Aug. 24. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We are so grateful and honored to serve this community in all our different capacities,” Maryanne said. “It’s been a wonderful life.”

The Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club supports many causes, with a main focus on vision assistance. Locally, it has funded benches in the village, purchased a PowerPoint projector for Ida Rupp Public Library, supported childhood cancer and diabetes research and installed Little Free Libraries around the area. Among its other projects, the Lions provide vision screening for Danbury schools.

The 32nd Annual Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club Perch Festival featured vendors, live music and more. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We want to thank you for supporting the Lions and our efforts to raise money for our many causes,” Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club President, Fran Tuttamore, told the crowd.

Lions District Governor Patty Moorman traveled to Marblehead for the event. During the opening ceremony, she addressed the crowd.

Parade spectators wave at Danbury Township Firefighters. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We’re always looking for more Lions, more hands, more organizations to partner with,” she said.

For more information, visit the Marblehead Peninsula Lions Facebook page.

Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club President, Fran Tuttamore, was grateful for the hundreds of people who attended the Perch Festival. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)