Steve and Cheryl Nichols Revive Traditions, Build Community

by Trish O’Brien

Six years ago, Steve and Cheryl Nichols chose Great Herring Pond as their home. It didn’t take long for their neighbors to realize they hadn’t just gained new residents—they had gained community builders.

Just one year after moving to the pond, the Nichols family revived a beloved tradition that had disappeared over the years: the Great Herring Pond Fourth of July Boat Parade. From the very beginning, Steve and Cheryl set the standard.

Leading the parade each year, their pontoon boat has become the highlight everyone eagerly anticipates. One summer, they transformed their boat into a full-fledged Pirates of the Caribbean ship, complete with a crow’s nest, skeletons, and elaborate decorations. The entire family dressed in pirate costumes, bringing the theme to life and delighting spectators gathered along the shoreline.

The parade quickly became an annual tradition once again. Not even Mother Nature could stop it. During the parade’s second year, heavy rain poured over the pond just prior to the scheduled start. While many participants understandably stayed home, the Nichols family and one other determined boat completed the entire route around the pond. Neighbors watched from their porches and docks cheering them on despite the weather. Their commitment ensured the new tradition wouldn’t fade away.

Each year since, the parade has continued to grow.

This summer, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Steve outdid himself once again. He handcrafted a magnificent bald eagle head and wings from wood, ingeniously attaching them to the family’s pontoon boat. The dramatic eagle led what many residents called the best parade yet.
More than 20 boats cruised around Great Herring Pond, decorated in brilliant red, white, and blue with patriotic flags waving proudly. The shoreline was packed with families and friends waving American flags, playing patriotic music, and eagerly waiting for the parade to pass by. It was a celebration of community as much as country.

But the Nichols family’s generosity extends far beyond the Fourth of July.

Each summer, Steve and Cheryl transform their waterfront property into an outdoor movie theater for neighbors and friends. Their giant movie screen is visible from both land and water, allowing guests to watch by boat or from a lawn chair.

No detail is overlooked. They serve fresh popcorn from a real movie theater popcorn machine, hot dogs with all the toppings from a commercial hot dog steamer, movie theater-sized candy, and cold beverages—all free for everyone who attends. Whether arriving from shore or tying up a boat at the dock, guests are welcomed like family.

Many movie nights become themed events. Neighbors have dressed in costume for films such as Grease, while a showing of Jaws featured a giant shark display that became the evening’s favorite photo opportunity. And this year, after one group watching from a boat jokingly mentioned they couldn’t hear the movie very well, Steve and Cheryl responded by purchasing an even more powerful sound system. That’s simply the kind of hosts they are.

Steve and Cheryl are always among the first to volunteer at the pond’s annual barbecue, lend a helping hand to neighbors, or assist a stranded boater. They have become the kind of neighbors everyone hopes to have – people who give freely of their time, talents, and enthusiasm without expecting anything in return.

Through the revival of the Fourth of July Boat Parade, unforgettable summer movie nights, and countless acts of kindness both large and small, Steve and Cheryl Nichols have helped strengthen the sense of community that makes Great Herring Pond such a special place to live.

To Steve and Cheryl: thank you for your creativity, generosity, and for reminding all of us that communities grow stronger when neighbors bring people together.