VILLAGE OF PAWLING – Preparations are underway for the return of “America’s shortest Parade” for the seventh year in the Village of Pawling. The February 18th party which includes a parade route of 223 feet on Broad Street is slated to have hundreds of marchers representing various organizations, Irish step dancers, and a free concert by The Nerds. A DJ will kick off the festivities near O’Connor’s Pub on Broad Street at 11:00 a.m. and the parade steps off at 1:00 p.m.
“The parade began when Kevin O’Connell and Juan Hughes were sitting in a pub and as a dare, decided to have a parade,” according to Henry Schaber, owner of the Pawling Family Quick Stop in the village. “This started as a parade of seven guys walking down the street,” said Schaber, who was the grand marshal for the inaugural march. “All of the businesses in town are busy as a result of the parade – it’s a really good community event.”
The 2023 parade will be led by Grand Marshalls Jim and Robert Schmitt, owners of Pawling-based Schmitt Brothers Excavation and Development. The brothers, according to the organizers, were chosen based on their collective commitment and the support they have shown to the entire Pawling community.