LEVERETT — Numerous floats representing local organizations such as the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust, joined by several community groups and officials, will be part of a 53-group parade celebrating the town’s 250th anniversary and stepping off Saturday at 10 a.m.

The parade, the latest in a series of events marking the town’s 1774 birthday and separation from Sunderland, will make its way through town center north from the corner of Depot and Long Hill roads, heading past Leverett Pond, Town Hall and the Leverett Arts and Crafts, to the Leverett Elementary School on Montague Road.

Among those who will be participating in the parade is Edie Field, Leverett’s town historian, for whom the Leverett 250th Committee dedicated the anniversary program. Field will be riding in an antique convertible.

Leverett Police, Fire and Highway department vehicles, along with those from neighboring mutual aid towns, will be participating in the parade, while Moo Butler will be clowning and juggling and the Shriners will be driving their little vehicles.

The floats will include one focused on veterans and another for the Field family, whose maple sugarhouse, dating to 1814, is the oldest in town. Among others in the parade will be a bagpiper, the Expandable Brass Band, Village Neighbors and Eva & Cheryl's Great Plant Giveaway Golf Cart, while Barry Roberts from Muddy Brook Farm in Amherst will be driving his horses with a carriage carrying local dignitaries.

While two seatings to a chicken barbecue catered by Bub’s BarBQ being held at the field between the school and library and where a large wooden birthday cake has been displayed since late winter, are already sold out, parade spectators without tickets to the lunch are welcome to drop by to listen to music by DJ Brian Boyles, purchase ice cream from Flayvors of Cook Farm and, for those 21 and over, a Leverett 250th anniversary India Pale Ale beer brewed by Drew Starkweather, owner of Progression Brewing.

Local artist Lori Lynn Hoffer will do face painting from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and small games, like cornhole, may also be set up for children.

Bus shuttles for the parade and barbecue will run throughout the day, with both signs and volunteers to direct people to find parking. Dedicated parking for elderly and handicapped will be at the school, Town Hall and the Leverett Congregational Church, with others encouraged to park along Montague Road north of the Public Safety Complex to board the shuttles.

The parade and barbecue are replicating what took place during the town’s bicentennial on July 7, 1974.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.