The Bath High School Alumni Association will celebrate their anniversary with a parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The parade will feature current students of Morse High School, as well as faculty and alumni who have attended Bath schools in the 125-year history.

The parade is one of several events scheduled over alumni weekend.

“It’s like a huge city-wide party,” said Cindy Footer Gabelmann, class of 1971. “My parents, siblings, daughters and many cousins, nieces and nephews graduated from Morse High School and this year we are celebrating the graduation of another nephew, so it will be even more special.”

The weekend of events begins with the Blue & White Golf Classic at the Bath Country Club today, hosted by the class of 1966.

This evening, the Bath High School Alumni Association 125th Anniversary Icebreaker Social will be held from 7-11 p.m. at the Kennebec Tavern. All Morse High alumni are invited to attend to enjoy socializing and dancing to music by DJ Corey Creamer.

There is an open house at Morse High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday where guests can visit the school and also watch the parade. Saturday events culminate with the Bath High School Alumni Association 125th Annual Alumni Banquet beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Bath Middle School.

“Over 50 classes have signed on to join the parade,” said organizer Tamara Lilly, class of 1986. “Several are building floats, while others are riding in classic cars or walking with their class banner.”

Mel Tukey, a local musician from the class of 1951, will perform with his band The Clam Flat Five on a float. Tukey performed for many years at the annual alumni banquet and has a fondness for parades, dating back to when he was 15 years old and joined the Masonic dance band for Easter festivities at Winter Street Church.

“We’d parade down Washington to Centre, march to Front Street and continue the loop back up to the church, where we’d have a meal of ham and eggs,” said Tukey.

The Bath Municipal Band, including alumni members, will also provide music in the parade. While dozens of classes from the 1950s onward are creating their own entry, there are also some seats available on the trolley and a decorated bus or two for alumni from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s to ride on. If family members are interested in this option, they may call or email to sign up, based on availability of space.

The route is a little different for this occasion. Parade participants will line up on Oak Grove, then turn left to travel down North Street where they will then turn right onto High Street, passing Morse High School along the way.

At High and Centre, the parade will turn left, continuing downtown where it will turn left on Front Street and disperse after passing Library Park. Spectators are encouraged to wear blue and white along the route in celebration of the Morse High colors.

Virginia MacDonald of the class of 1938 will be one of the grand marshals, with a potential surprise guest from an even earlier graduating class as well. The parade will also have a section for future alumni and classes from 2019-24 have already signed up. All students from the class of 2021 forward must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

The parade is sponsored by several local organizations, all of whom have Morse graduates in ownership, management and/or employment. The sponsors are First Federal Savings, Bath Savings, M.W. Sewall, Burgess Technology Services, Reed & Reed, Studio Theater of Bath and the Coastal Journal.

To get involved, call (207) 358-0031 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit the alumni page at rsu1.org or follow the Bath High School Alumni Association on Facebook.

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