CAMDEN — The clouds cleared, the sun sparkled on the rain-wet Route 1, and the air washed fresh and sweet over the Camden Hills Regional High School Class of 2016 as the graduating seniors marched with aplomb through downtown Camden. It was the baccalaureate, the school’s special — and the community’s most favorite part — of the high school graduation week.

The June 6 parade began at Camden-Rockport Middle School, as the seniors strode down Knowlton Street to Mechanic, turned left, walked to Washington Street, turned left again, and went over Tannery Lane to meet up with Route 1, just across the street from the Camden Public Library’s park.

There, police stopped traffic on the busy highway, and the seniors marched along the street, back up the hill to the First Congregational Church, where they participated in the 2016 baccalaureate, that academic and spiritual tradition with roots in the Middle Ages, and honors education and learning.

Some wore sandals, some barn boots, some wore red sneakers, some wore heels. And as always, they were beautiful and handsome and perfect — ready for what lies ahead.

Along the way, people gathered on the sidewalk to cheer them forward, congratulate them, and take their pictures.

For Camden Hills, the tradition has continued for decades, and is multi-denominational, with clergy representing the Chestnut Street Baptist, St. Thomas' Episcopal, First Universalist and Congregational churches, and the Adas Yoshuron Synagogue.

The annual baccalaureate takes place every June, on the Monday preceding the Friday night graduation. That ceremony begins at 7:59 p.m., Friday, June 10, in the Strom Auditorium at the high school. This year’s commencement speaker is CHRHS alum and Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Goodale.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657