The Festival of Lights

Over the past weekend Millerton’s community celebrated another Festival of Lights during the Thanksgiving holiday. Like a magnet drawing townspeople and visitors to the center of the Village, the yearly event once again became a unifying experience. The daylong activities served to entertain people of all ages — from toddlers hermetically wrapped in winter coats and hats and blankets to senior citizens cautiously navigating the sidewalk after dark, some with adult children and grandchildren on their flank.

The chatter in Veterans Park, in the coffee house, in the shops, at the Oakhurst Diner and pretty much anywhere people congregated was an affirmation of our values, traditions and local pride. Main Street was lighted up, spreading a holiday glow as paradegoers lined sidewalks and spaces between parked cars to get a “best position” to watch the fire trucks, antique cars, ATVs and floats pass by. 

The Festival of Lights is a cultural gem for the Village — an annual ritual allowing us to celebrate something together in a festive setting. Families and friends stood in the cold night, sharing the anticipation. Strangers shared conversation as everyone waited for the Big Tree to be lighted, marking the start of the cavalcade of parade vehicles. 

The Festival of Lights is plain, old-fashioned fun. For children, it rains candy. Treats are tossed from big red fire engines bedecked in lights and inflatable Santas and snowmen, sirens blaring. Not to mention that Mr. and Mrs. Claus make their appearance.

Festivals bring everyone together. Fire companies from all around join in the celebration. And together, we have unity and common purpose.  Seeing the Millerton Police Department, led by Chief Joe Olenik, managing traffic at Main and Dutchess, waving pedestrians to and fro, was more evidence that the weekend events had created a buzz in town. And in Veterans Park,  the Salisbury Brass Band played on... 

The steady stream of strollers through the afternoon boosted sales on the Black Friday, though such a sense of commercial frenzy didn’t hang in the air. Festivals in general typically are known to result in a positive economic impact. We salute the businesses and organizations that sponsored the Festival of Lights. They are: The Moviehouse, Millerton Business Alliance, North East Ford, Millerton Fire Company, NBT Bank, BES Shop, Designer Finds of Millerton, Montage Antiques, Moore and More Printing, the North East Community Center, NorthEast-Millerton Library and Stonefield Properties. 

The Festival of Lights instructs us once again that we are all neighbors. That we share something important, and that is pride in Millerton — and belonging here.

Afterward, walking back home, or back in their warm cars, the parade-goers are homeward bound, filled with a good mix of communual spirit, unity and pride — all thanks to those who keep the Festival of Lights tradition alive.