POUGHKEEPSIE – City officials have eliminated the parade portion of the annual Celebration of Lights event. The event is being held at Dongan Square Park on December 2nd and will feature food trucks, Santa Claus, and fireworks. Floats from the previous Celebration of Lights parades have been moved to the park and will be on display during the holiday kickoff.
This year, the various festivities will center around Dongan Square Park from 6-9 p.m. A “Renewable Holiday Village” will be created highlighting recyclables and renewables in a festive mood of community celebration. In addition, several businesses and organizations will have other activities taking place that day. The Mural Square holiday tree on Main Street will be lit earlier in the day.
“We are looking forward to this community celebration and are grateful to our partners who are helping the city bring this to fruition,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison. The mayor thanked the city’s Art Commission and the Bardavon for co-sponsoring the event and Artistic Director Andres San Milan for helping organize it.
As part of the village setting, San Millan’s four giant float replicas are already in Dongan Square Park — Vassar Brothers Institute, the Steamboat Mary Powell, the 1911 Pelton mansion, and the Ruby Bridges Locomotive.
The event will culminate with fireworks, sponsored by the Poughkeepsie River District Business Association, beginning at 8:20 p.m.
Additional information on the celebration can be found here.
