Holiday Parade, Christmas Tree Lighting Return To Poughkeepsie

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — It's been two years, but there will be a holiday season parade and fireworks once again in the city of Poughkeepsie.

The 27th annual City of Poughkeepsie Celebration of Lights Parade and fireworks will happen Friday, Dec. 3.

Chris Silva, executive director of the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, announced the return of the parade Monday, adding that a screening of holiday film classic "It's a Wonderful Life" will take place after the fireworks at his theater.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street and Garden Street and proceed to the evening's first Christmas tree lighting on Main at Mural Square near Market Street.

After that, the parade will continue down Main Street to Clover Street where it will end at Dongan Square Park for the second Christmas tree lighting.

Then at 7:15 p.m., the Poughkeepsie River District Business Association and Legion Fireworks will present the area's only winter fireworks display.

Featured in the parade will be four giant float replicas of Vassar Brothers Institute, the Steamboat Mary Powell, the 1911 Pelton mansion and, new this year, the Ruby Bridges Locomotive, all created by Cocoon Theatre Artistic Director Andres San Millan.

The parade will be led by Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison and members of the Common Council. They will be joined by the Arm of the Sea Theatre's musicians and giant puppets, Amerscott Highland Pipers, Brasskill Brass Band, Fat Boi's Brass Band, The Bucket Brigade and The Wholly Brass Band.

Additionally, the Mid-Hudson Rowing Association, SPOKE Poughkeepsie Bike Club, the Poughkeepsie Library's Bookmobile will be in the parade, with Santa Claus arriving on a City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department engine.

The screening of "It's a Wonderful Life" will be preceded at 7:30 p.m. with a concert on the theater's Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

There will also be a multiple-stage small puppet theater presentation by Paper Heart puppets before and after the film at the Bardavon.

Officials at the Bardavon said the ticketholders at the film screening will be required to show proof of vaccination for the coronavirus and a government-issued ID the day of the show.

For more information, check out the Bardavon website.