Independence Day is just six weeks away!
Last year the community’s July 4th celebration consisted of a drive-by parade and lots of little fireworks displays set off by residents that were mostly illegal since New York banned fireworks by private citizens several years ago.
“It was a sad year,” Mayor Joe D’Onofrio said this week, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic really put a damper on many of the traditional festivities in Highland Falls in 2020. “Cancelling our long-standing Main St. parade last year was heart-breaking.”
But, D’Onofrio is confident that the community can safely celebrate Independence Day together this year, with three or four events. Those would include a Memorial Park concert on July 3 to honor this year’s grand marshals of the parade; the annual Firecracker 5K (put on independently of the village); the parade; and then an evening Roe Park gathering that leads up to fireworks at about 9 p.m.
The mayor said the grand marshals of this year’s parade will be local teachers and students.
“They’ve had a hard year,” he said. “It seems like a good time to celebrate the hard work they have done.”
There will be no bed races, due to the fact that those involve putting a lot of people in a small area of Main St. D’Onofrio said that probably wouldn’t meet current COVID protocols.
And while he thinks that all can be done in a way that is safe, his current problem is that he has no one to help him plan it all. In addition, funds are needed to pay for it all.
“I know times are tough,” he said from his office on Monday. “How can I ask a business or even a family, after the year they have had, to make a donation? But I guess I have to.”
D’Onofrio thinks the community as a whole will come through with some donations. He says there is enough money to pay for the fireworks, but would need money for the concert, bands for the parade, and the various incidentals related to planning the event.
Those who wish to can send donations to the Fourth of July Committee at PO Box 200, Highland Falls, NY 10928.
Assuming he gets some money so that it can all happen, he also needs two other things.
First, people to help plan it, and pull of things like parade line-up on July 4. Other tasks that need done include some secretarial type work to help facilitate fund-raising, etc.
Second, he needs groups and individuals to commit to participating in the parade and fun at Roe Park.
“I’m looking for food vendors or other vendors for that 5-9 p.m. time frame at Roe Park,” he said. “Or groups that want to coordinate activities for there.”
He also needs to hear from the groups like the fire departments that they’ll participate. Scouts, color guards, floats (including the most simple of decorated cars or trucks), military vehicles, marching units, costumed marchers, youth sports players, civic groups, churches, business delivery vehicles .. any and all of that is welcome.
Individuals or representatives of groups are asked to contact the mayor at Village Hall (446-3400 or mayorjoe@highlandfallsny.org) as soon as they can.
“I really can’t do this alone,” he said, “and I really think we need these fun events this summer.”
