Celebration of Lights Parade & Fireworks — Poughkeepsie
Additional Information
On Friday, December 5 at 6:30pm the Bardavon and City of Poughkeepsie, in conjunction with Vassar Brothers Medical Center/Health Quest, Central Hudson, Rhinebeck Bank, TD Bank Foundation, the Poughkeepsie River District Business Association and Walkway over the Hudson present the 21st annual Celebration of Lights Parade and Fireworks. This event kicks off the holiday season in Poughkeepsie as thousands of people attend.
The parade will commence at 6:30pm on Main Street and Garden Street and proceed to the evening’s first Christmas tree lighting on Main, near Market Street. The Celebration of Lights Parade is led by Mayor John Tkazyik and members of the Common Council and will be joined by the Amerscott Highland Pipers, Poughkeepsie Exempt Fireman’s Association Color Guard, DARE, Adams Fairacre Farms with Layton Percheron horse drawn hayride, Hudson Health Plan, Miss Hudson Valley, Miss Hudson Valley Teen, Dutchess Jeep & Dodge, Red Knights Motorcycle Club, Roaring Thunder Car Club, Arlington Auto and Tire, Art in Motion Dance Academy, Hudson Valley Girl & Boy Scouts and several Hudson Valley Philharmonic brass ensembles. Also joining in the parade will be performances by Arm of the Sea Theatre, POOK and Center for Creative Education with 200 children from Warring, Morse, Clinton and Kreiger elementary schools. Finally Santa Claus will arrive on a City of Poughkeepsie Fire Engine.
The parade will proceed down Main Street to Clover Street where the parade will conclude at Dongan Square Park for the second Christmas tree lighting. Then at 7:15, Poughkeepsie River District Business Association and Legion Fireworks will present the area's only winter fireworks display. Walkway over the Hudson’s December Member Moonwalk will be held during the Celebration of Lights event on Friday from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. from the Poughkeepsie approach only. Admission is $5 per person, free to Walkway Members and Children under the age of 16 who are accompanied by an adult. Hot cider & chocolate will be available for purchase.
Coinciding with the parade and fireworks, and throughout the evening, the River District establishments (Amici's, The Derby, Caffe Aurora, Mahoney's, Milanese and Noah’s Ark) will offer entertainment, and food and beverage specials. Following the parade and fireworks, the Bardavon will present a screening of the family film classic The Muppet Movie (1979) at 8pm, preceded at 7:30pm with a concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. All seats $6. The Muppet Movie depicts Kermit the Frog as he embarks on a cross-country trip to Hollywood. Along the way, he encounters several of the Muppets— who all share his ambition of finding success in professional show business— while being pursued by a relentless restaurateur who wants to employ Kermit as a spokesperson for his frog legs business.Packed with surreal humor and prolific cameos, the film received critical praise including two Academy Awards for Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher’s musical score and their song, “Rainbow Connection.”
Then on Saturday, December 6th, the Poughkeepsie River District Business Association will present the 4th Annual Family Day & Holiday Scavenger Hunt. Participation is free, and scavenger hunt registration begins at 11am at Caffe Aurora, where registrants will pick up their item card and area map for a Holiday Scavenger Hunt within Poughkeepsie's River District and Little Italy. Prizes will then be awarded randomly from all those who complete their cards, with drawings held at 4pm at The Derby. The day’s entertainment begins at 12 noon and will include games & prizes, plus Santa Claus and more.
Sponsors include: Vassar Brothers Medical Center/Health Quest Central Hudson, TD Bank Foundation, Rhinebeck Bank, Dutchess Dodge/Kia, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, The Poughkeepsie Journal, Adams Fairacre Farms, Dorsey Gage, Bonura Hospitality Group. WPDH/WRRV/MIX 97.7/THE WOLF, WDST, WKZE, Pamal, Clear Channel, The City of Poughkeepsie PBA &CSCA, Dutchess Beer Distributors, McCabe & Mack, Hodgkins Agency, Prime Retirement Asset Management, Riverside Bank and Torsone's Funeral Home.
Parking is readily available in City of Poughkeepsie Municipal lots. For further info check out the Bardavon web site at www.bardavon.org or call the Bardavon at (845) 473-2072 or check out Poughkeepsie River District website at www.pokriverdistrict.org.