GILL — The Christmas in July celebration has been a local tradition since 2003. In the last four years, though, cancellations or delays have become secondary traditions, impacting the event’s continuity.

Longtime organizer Sharon Constantine is hopeful that this year’s Christmas in July, planned for Saturday, July 27, will be successful despite a turbulent few years.

“Thankfully, by all reports, Mother Nature is going to be kind to us this year,” she said.

Last year, portions of the event were modified, including the lighted boat parade, to accommodate high water levels amid excessive rainfall.

“Basically all of July was a rainstorm, and the river was actually shut down for a while,” Constantine recalled. “We did a modified boat parade; we were lucky enough to be able to do that, as short as it was. This year, everything should be back to normal.”

Prior to the 2023 Christmas in July, the pandemic curbed festivities from 2020 to 2022. This year, hopes are high for the gift of good weather and normal conditions.

Since Christmas in July first took shape 21 years ago, the event hasn’t changed much in the way of programming, but it has become bigger since its inception, according to Constantine.

“It was started 21 years ago by our former commodore, Chuck Brian, who passed away in 2017, but we keep bringing it forward and it just keeps getting bigger,” Constantine recounted. “The following is amazing.”

Constantine begins planning for the event in January each year. She credits much of the process to the Franklin County Boat Club, which collects donations and hosts an auction to pay for the event.

“If it wasn’t for them, this would not happen,” she said. “They make it all happen. I’m just the organizer.”

This year, the free event will be held in collaboration with Pioneer Valley Brewery starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. Live music by Groove Prophet and food trucks will be at the brewery on Third Street, and the Christmas in July boat parade and fireworks can be seen from Unity Park in Turners Falls. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.

The lighted boat parade is a prominent feature of Christmas in July. Members of the Franklin County Boat Club decorate their boats with a Christmas theme and circle Barton Cove for spectators.

Constantine and her husband lead the boat parade with Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause on the bow of the boat. The parade is also a competition for who has the best boat decorations. Trophies for first, second and third place are given out to those boats who come out on top, with applause and cheers from spectators contributing to the judges’ decisions. The first-place winner receives a discount on their dock payment for the boats.

Constantine remains hopeful for a successful day on Saturday, noting that she wants “no tricks by Mother Nature last minute.” She mentioned how the community gets involved to make this tradition happen each year, noting the advertising done by Pioneer Valley Brewery.

“The community really seems to look forward to this,” Constantine said. “That’s what we’re hoping for as a community who gets to take advantage of all of this.”

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.