Millerton’s holiday lights shine thanks to volunteer-led Townscape

MILLERTON – When the twinkling holiday lights appear throughout Millerton, it isn’t officials or a team of elves making the magic happen. It’s an all-volunteer group called Townscape, which spends an entire day testing and stringing lights, delivering boxes to businesses and raising every dollar needed to make it happen year after year.

Townscape was founded by Cathy Fenn, Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor, three residents whose vision and community spirit helped shape the village’s appearance for more than two decades.

“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” Fenn said.

Each year, Townscape installs holiday lights on both sides of Main Street across the business district, and on the towering tree at Routes 22 and 44. The lighting of that tree is reserved for the Festival of Lights, which happens right before the parade on the day after Thanksgiving. Donations from supporters cover the cost of installation and maintenance, helping Townscape fill the village with a cheerful winter glow.

“We hear all the time from people that they love coming to Millerton from Thanksgiving through March because it’s the brightest town – because of our lights,” said Townscape volunteer Christopher Baetz, who has volunteered since 2023.

The lights are stored through the winter, and in early November volunteers begin testing strand by strand. Townscape delivers boxes of lights to Main Street businesses so they can decorate their windows.

“As much as we can do, we do ourselves,” said volunteer Claire Goodman, who added that they outsource some of the higher branches to Stafford Tree Service, which assists each year with ladders, cherry pickers and equipment.

New this year is a garland of greenery along the Webatuck bridge, organized by artist and Townscape secretary Teri Goetz.

Originally formed as a volunteer committee in 1998 and officially adopted by the Village of Millerton as nonprofit in 2007, Townscape has long been a force for beautification and community pride.

“It’s not just the lights,” said Fenn. “There’s a lot that goes on between flowers, benches, tables and even serving as an advisory committee of sorts to certain projects in town. We have an absolutely fantastic group of volunteers on Townscape right now.”