AMESBURY — Music, laughter and excited chatter echoed throughout the Heritage Park Lower Mill Yard on Thursday as throngs of people joined the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce to kick off Amesbury Days with the city’s biggest party of the year.
Every corner of the Lower Mill Yard was packed with tents manned by vendors and local restaurants such as Hodgie’s Ice Cream and M. Cacao Chocolates for the Amesbury Days Block Party from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Children enjoyed activities, including a bounce house and horse rides, and booths were run Amesbury Public Library and local groups.
Children eagerly gathered outside a tank where they could dunk familiar faces in the city, including Mayor Kassandra Gove.
“It’s always been a lot of fun,” Gove said. “You know you’re going in, but the kids love it. They love it. It gives them a little sense of power of their own, right? They’re dunking, dunking the mayor, dunking their superintendent, their teacher.”
Gove once was in charge of planning the event as the director of the Chamber of Commerce. Now, she has been dunked every year since being elected mayor in 2019. She said she loves how the Chamber has expanded the event since her time as director.
“They were able to really expand it to include more vendors, lots of businesses that are here, lots of nonprofits and volunteers who make this possible. It really does take a village,” Gove said
Among others to get dunked were Amesbury school Superintendent Elizabeth McAndrews and Amesbury High School Principal Danielle Ricci.
“It’s awesome,” Ricci said. “It’s a great community event, and I think when students can see you and families can see you outside of your traditional role, it’s just fun. It helps them to build connections, relationships , and anytime you can keep it light and have some fun in the job, it’s worth it.”
A soaked McAndrews agreed, joking that she must have been dunked at least 25 times.
“It’s fabulous,” she said. “The first time you go in is a little bit more difficult because you’re just kind of like waiting for it to happen. But after that, it’s fabulous.”
Among those who knocked McAndrews in was 10-year-old Jackson Tully.
“It felt pretty good,” he said.
Amesbury resident Pia Froncki said she came to the block party with her children to enjoy the community atmosphere.
“I’ve come every single year so far,” Froncki said.
She shared what it means to gather with her neighbors for a fun party each year.
“That we are all in it, someplace, in one place in the world, and we’re all in one place together,” Froncki said. “I love seeing all my friends, family, and all the kids I work with. I get to see everybody and I get to give everybody hugs and love.”
Other events coming up as part of Amesbury Days include the Employee Appreciation Luncheon and Line Dancin’ on Monday, and Kids Night at Heritage Park on Tuesday.
Closing out the days-long celebration will be the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Woodsom Farm.
The full list of events can be found at amesburydays.com.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.