Firemen's Parade Draws Crowds To Verplanck

VERPLANCK, N.Y. — Spectators cheered enthusiastically as they watched the Verplanck Fire Department’s parade Saturday evening.

The parade was in conjunction with the 90th annual Italian Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in order to attract larger crowds.

Fire departments in nearby municipalities, such as Cortlandt and Peekskill, were also represented in the parade.

“Having all the departments here was really nice,” said Angie Smith of Verplanck. Smith’s husband and three of her sons marched in the parade, so she looks forward to the event every year as “kind of a tradition.”

The parade featured marching bands and drummers to liven up the procession and to introduce each group of volunteers.

“I look forward to the bagpipes,” said Jolene Lent, a lifelong resident of Verplanck. “The music makes it.”

Friends and family of Lent, who has lived in Verplanck for 48 years, said she knows almost everyone in town, including several people in the fire department. They joked that the volunteers in the parade stopped many times just to wave to her.

“It’s great to have something for everyone to come out for,” said Lent, who invites her family to come watch the parade with her every year.

The parade ended at the firehouse on 8th Street, which was adjacent to where the Italian Feast took place. Festivities included carnival rides and games, traditional carnival treats, and Italian-American specialties. The feast ends Sunday night with a spectacular fireworks display.

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