Festival of Lights to return Nov. 25

Festival of Lights to return Nov. 25
Despite the snow, many gathered to celebrate the holiday season during last year’s Parade of Lights. Photo courtesy of Townscape of Millerton and North East

MILLERTON — The Festival of Lights is back this year, bigger and better than ever.

The Millerton Business Association (MBA) has created a weekend-long festival around the traditional Parade of Lights hosted by the Millerton Fire Company and North East Fire District. Festivities are planned for the weekend after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-27.

“We’ve added a lot of events and things around town,” said Dana Rohn, co-secretary of the MBA and owner of Montage Antiques on Main Street. “Friday is the biggest day, but Saturday and Sunday we’ll have stuff around town as well.”

Rohn said the pandemic has been hard on local businesses and the MBA hopes to create an event that will draw families into town on a holiday weekend.

“It was such a blow to not be able to have events,” she said. “The Festival of Lights is the MBA trying to support the local businesses and create a wonderful atmosphere for families and shopping and dining here in Millerton.”

Rohn stressed that all of the events are free and open to everyone. The MBA is sponsoring a raffle with prizes such as a bike or a scooter. Children can get tickets at either the ice carving demonstration or the free movie screening at The Moviehouse. The raffle will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Friday at Veteran’s Park. You must be present to win.

The fire department’s traditional Parade of Lights will cap off Friday night.

“It’s a beautiful parade of lights through the town,” said Kelly Rogers, vice president and treasurer of the Millerton Fire Company and North East Fire District. Rogers has been working on the Parade of Lights for 10 years.

“Every year we get more and more floats, more fire departments coming from a long stretch away,” Rogers said.

Line up will be at Arnoff Moving & Storage at 4:30 p.m. and step off will be at 5 p.m. Main Street will be closed to traffic for the duration of the parade. Anyone who would like to join the parade can contact Rogers at 518-929-8293 for more information. There is no deadline to join the parade.

Throughout the weekend, stores will reveal their holiday displays and offer sales and refreshments to shoppers. There will be a snowman scavenger hunt; children can assemble a snowman by visiting different shops, then turn in their completed snowman for a candy cane.

“It’s a celebration of community and generosity and thanks,” Rohn said. “It’s a wonderful way for us merchants to do something to give back to our community that we’re so lucky to be a part of.”

Schedule of Events

Friday, Nov. 25

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Ice carving demonstration at Veteran’s Park

10:30 a.m.: Free screening of “The Polar Express” at The Moviehouse (seats are first-come, first-served; show starts promptly at 11 a.m. and includes popcorn and beverage)

1:15 p.m.: Children’s raffle at Veteran’s Park. Must be present to win.

1-3 p.m.: Cookie decorating and live music at North East Community Center

1-4 p.m.: Hot cocoa and cookies at Veteran’s Park

2:30-4:30 p.m.: Salisbury Brass Band at Veteran’s Park

5 p.m.: Festival of Lights Parade and tree lighting

Saturday, Nov. 26

12-3 p.m.: Himmelli ornament workshop and book giveaway at North East Millerton Library

 

 

Latest News

Pauline King Garfield

Pauline King Garfield

EAST CANAAN — Pauline K. (King) Garfield, 94 of 77 South Canaan Rd. formerly of East Canaan, died Sunday May 24, 2026, at Geer Village.She was the wife of the late Duane Garfield who passed August 14, 2017. Pauline was born April 3, 1932 in North Canaan, CT in the former Geer Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Rose (Van Vlack) King.

Pauline spent her career at Becton Dickinson in Canaan, after being a stay-at-home mother for many years.She was employed at Becton Dickinson for 23 years. She enjoyed bus trips with her late husband Duane to the Casinos, spending time with her family watching the grandchildren grow up. Recently she made a comment to care givers that was “wait until I see that husband of mine for leaving me here, I am going to read him the riot act.” Over the years she enjoyed many crafts, but her favorite was crocheting gifts for everyone.

Keep ReadingShow less

Let's hear it - May 28, 2026

Let's hear it - May 28, 2026

Last Week’s Question

What is one change you’d make to your town center to make it more welcoming?

Keep ReadingShow less

Memorial Day paraders brave wet weather

Memorial Day paraders brave wet weather

A ceremonial firing party honored fallen soldiers at Millerton’s American Legion on Route 44 on Monday, May 25. Legion representatives originally planned a parade down Millerton’s Main Street and a ceremony at the Veterans Park monument in front of the Methodist Church, but rain forced the events inside at American Legion Post 178.

Photo by Nathan Miller

Wet weather this past Memorial Day weekend cast a hazy drizzle over much of northeast Dutchess County, forcing holiday ceremonies inside in Millerton and Amenia.

Pine Plains and Millbrook pushed on with parades in those towns, attracting thronging crowds to Main Streets to mourn and reflect on the sacrifice of fallen soldiers.

Keep ReadingShow less
memorial day
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Amenia to split rail trail maintenance with county

Amenia to split rail trail maintenance with county
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — The Town of Amenia has approved a shared maintenance agreement for the Harlem Valley Rail Trail with Dutchess County and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association.

Town Board members accepted the agreement by unanimous vote at the regular meeting of the Town Board on Thursday, May 21.

Keep ReadingShow less
government

A blessing for pets — and a lifeline for their health

A blessing for pets — and a lifeline for their health
Lazarus, a Eurasian eagle owl, poses with Dr. Laura, his longtime handler. The rescue raptor — known as the event’s “wow factor” for his striking presence and six-foot wingspan — will appear as the Raptor Ambassador at Rhinebeck’s Blessing of the Animals.
provided

For many pet owners, animals are family. On Saturday, May 30, that bond will be celebrated in a uniquely practical and heartfelt way when the Blessing of the Animals returns to Third Lutheran Evangelical Church in Rhinebeck alongside a free rabies vaccination clinic hosted by Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary.

The event, scheduled from noon to 4 p.m., is free for Dutchess County residents and open to dogs, cats and domestic ferrets three months and older. While the clinic itself provides an important public health service, organizers say the day has become about much more than vaccinations.

Keep ReadingShow less
community

Growing community

Growing community

Sheila Srere, left, and Cathy Fenn plant flowers in a small island at the Harlem Valley Rail Trail’s intersection with Main Street in Millerton on Thursday, May 21.

Photo by Nathan Miller

A band of volunteers planted flowers across downtown Millerton on Thursday, May 21, as part of local group Townscape's annual beautification efforts. Community members from across northeast Dutchess County came together to plant flowers at Millerton's veterans memorial monument in front of the United Methodist Church on Main Street and in planters and flower beds along Main Street down to the intersection with Route 22.


Keep ReadingShow less
volunteering
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.