Each year in Essex, in March, everyone gets to be Irish for a day. The 10th annual Essex go Bragh Irish Parade & Festival steps off from Town Hall.
The Essex Go Bragh (translated as Essex Forever) Irish Parade & Festival features an Irish-themed parade down Main Street into the heart of Essex Village followed by the Festival. The idea for this event was born in the minds of Park and Recreation staff as a new special event for Essex that would get people together in the village for fun and festivities and to hopefully break the spell of a long and cold winter. Over the years Essex go Bragh has been very well received by the community, enjoying many hundreds of visitors each year.
The parade is truly a festive affair for the whole family with a lot to see and enjoy. A color guard of local Essex veterans leads the march followed by the antique cars of the Essex Auto Club. A carriage, drawn by horses from Allegra Farms, carries our grand marshal along our parade route. Local officials and politicians compete for space amongst the fife and drums, Irish step dancers, tractors and floats. Music is provided by the Sailing Masters of 1812.