Fireman’s Parade marks last weekend of annual Railroad Days events

NORTH CANAAN — The food, the music, the bull-riding, belly dancing, classic cars, and fireworks, and oh yes, the weather. The last weekend of Railroad Days rocked in every sense.As thousands jammed the streets prior to Saturday’s Fireman’s Parade, there was an atmosphere of sheer summer enjoyment: being outside, greeting friends and being grateful a sudden storm with damaging winds was not bearing down (as it did last year).It was a good thing, because the parade was an impressive one, with fire departments from 35 towns, and three marching bands, coming to help celebrate the Canaan Fire Company’s 100th anniversary. They brought firetrucks, antique and new; all sorts of rescue vehicles including an airboat, ambulances and ladder trucks. There were color guards, volunteer firefighters marching with precision under the judges’ scrutiny, and there was one Dalmatian that might or might not have been in step.Railroad Days organizer John Lannen was breathing a sigh of relief Monday, even while beginning to make plans for next year. He was grateful to a slew of people — too many to thank individually, he said — for “pulling together.” A crucial need, he said, is for more volunteers to help with planning, and during the 11-day festival. While it is sponsored by the Canaan Chamber of Commerce, no able bodies will be turned away.But for this year, here’s how those hard-working emergency volunteers stacked up against each other in the July 16 judging:Best Overall Fire Unit: ThomastonBest Appearing Apparatus: NorfolkBest Appearing Apparatus, out of state: SheffieldBest Appearing Company in Coats: MorrisBest Appearing Company in Coats, out of state: SheffieldBest Appearing Company in Shirts: New Hartford EMSBest Appearing Company in Shirts, out of state: New MarlboroughBest Appearing Company, 15 or under: BethlehemBest appearing Company Without Music: BethanyBest Appearing Ladies Auxiliary: Falls VillageBest Appearing Junior Unit: RivertonBest Appearing Color Guard:Morris Best Appearing Aerial Apparatus: SharonBest Appearing Rescue: WashingtonBest Appearing Brush Truck: DrakevilleBest Appearing Custom:BurlingtonBest Appearing Commercial: RivertonBest Appearing Antique, motorized: BantamMost Firefighters in Line: WinstedMost Ladies in Line: Falls VillageUnit Coming the Longest Distance: BethanyBest Appearing Musical Unit: St. Peter’s Drum Corps (Torrington)First Runner-up Musical Unit: Connecticut Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps

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