The Hudson Valley Volunteer Firefighters’ Association will hold its annual convention in Saugerties this year. The convention runs from June 19 to June 22, with meetings and classes held at firehouses during the earlier part of the week and parades on Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 23.
“It’s a good central location for us,” said Mike Karashay, the president of the firefighters’ association. “We’ve had the convention here seven times between 1893 and 2021.” He recalled that in 1977, “the year of the great flood, the skies opened up, manhole covers came off; I remember Supervisor Turner actually standing over one of the manhole covers.”
Karashay described the scheduled events. On Friday, June 21, the association will hold its awards ceremony in the morning. A “Mardi Gras” parade is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., followed by a block party on Main and Partition streets. The theme of the parade will be “Under the Sea.” In response to a question from Mayor Bill Murphy, Karashay said he is discussing his plans with local restaurants, some of which will be providing special menus for the occasion. “We’re bringing in two bands for that evening, one at Reis Parking Lot and one at Partition.”
Lineup for the parade on Saturday will start at 11 a.m. Later in the day, activities are planned for Cantine Field, including a tent, bands, food and general relaxation. The event will end at approximately 9 p.m. with trophies being handed out.
The organization will seek a slot on TV 23 to let the public know what’s happening, and they will be putting up posters to advertise the event, Karashay said. “We’re working through all those logistics.”
While 120 units have been invited to join the main parade on Saturday, Karashay said he does not expect the parade to be that big. The dress parade has been a three-hour event in the past, but “I’m figuring about two hours this year.”
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