Annual parade is a 'hometown affair'

PINE PLAINS — By most estimates, more than 1,000 people packed the parade route for Pine Plains’ annual Parade of Lights.

It was a cold, early evening  Saturday, Nov. 27, but that didn’t stop the throngs of residents and curious out-of-towners from filing into town for the event.

“We come every year,� said Mary Richard, whose family is from outside of Red Hook and dutifully makes the annual trip to Pine Plains to kick off the holiday season. “It’s one of the best [parades] around and the kids are always excited to go.�

The parade is sponsored by the Pine Plains Business Association (PPBA), which organizes the event with plenty of volunteer help from residents and local organizations. Decorating Day for the event was held earlier in the afternoon and included a special visit from Santa Claus.

The parade began shortly after 5 p.m. and the procession made its way from the Stissing Mountain High School to the town’s firehouse. Dozens of floats and parade vehicles, representing fire departments and local organizations and businesses, slowly maneuvered through the town’s center while spectators cheered.

“It was a really good turnout,� said Ibis Guzman, PPBA’s president. “There were a lot of new people, fresh faces, and a lot of work had gone into the event. We were really happy that everybody came and spent the afternoon and evening with us.�

Guzman thanked everyone in the community who lent a helping hand, from the participants who took the time to put together some impressive floats to all of the people who made it to Pine Plains to watch the show.

“It definitely creates a sense of pride in this community,� he said. “Our parade is simple and it’s not commercialized. We don’t have any big huge corporate sponsors. It’s definitely a hometown affair.�

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