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
