Tri-Town Winter Carnival Parade

Counties in New York State are divided into towns, which some other states call townships. The three adjacent towns of Brasher, Lawrence and Stockholm are so rural that they pool their resources for many things, including their annual Winter Carnival. This fire truck was from West Stockholm, a tiny, picturesque hamlet in the town of Stockholm:

The Foreign Legion Post of Winthrop, another hamlet in the town of Stockholm:

Helena is a hamlet in the town of Brasher. The parade was happening in Brasher Falls, also in the town of Brasher:

This year's Winter Carnival theme was "Olde Tyme Carnivale" and these revelers created a float which included popcorn and the games of "Hole In One" and "Ring Toss." I noticed a lot of crowns and fur-trimmed red robes, so these people must have been the King, Queen and other dignitaries:

The hamlets of Brasher Falls and Winthrop are adjacent but in two different towns. They pool their resources for many things, including a fire department:

I guess it's never too early to promote the Tri-Town Summer Festival, a much bigger event because of the much better weather:

The Tri-Town Volunteer Rescue Squad is headquartered in Brasher Falls, also the site of the regional school:

A fortune teller, in keeping with the theme of "Olde Tyme Carnivale:"

Lawrenceville is a particularly tiny hamlet in the town of Lawrence, but they have their own fire department:

Lots of costumes in keeping with theme, and riding on a truck belonging to a local business, Rick's Auto Body:

Hopkinton is a fourth town and not officially part of the Tri-Town pact, but they always support each other's events. Fort Jackson is a tiny, woodsy hamlet in the town of Hopkinton:

The local kids' hockey team, The Timberwolves (one word):

Another fire truck from the combined Brasher-Winthrop Fire Department. This was an even smaller parade than usual, but a heartwarming reminder of friendlier times, when neighbors came out to support each other and wave as their friends and children passed by in the parade. It was all over in about 15 minutes, but in north country winter weather, that was OK with me:

Another Small Town Parade - Part 2

I was enjoying the Tri-Town summer festival parade (see also Part 1, posted yesterday) in the charming small town of Brasher Falls, NY. This parade entrant was from Stewarts, a convenience store chain which made its name selling milk and ice cream. Now they sell nearly everything and can found nearly everywhere in northeastern New York:

Another country singer in the back of a pickup truck, this one with her own guitarist:

I promised myself I wouldn't take any fire truck photos this time, but they make up such a big part of every small town parade that I figured I needed at least one. This fire truck was from the Brasher-Winthrop fire district:

The local Girl Scout troop with their space themed float:

Horses and riders. The woman walking is my neighbor and she always marches in parades with her horses to promote suicide awareness (she lost a daughter):

Another country band on the back of  a truck:

A Tyrannosaurus, who wisely declined trying to march:

And this float was a mystery to me:

More horses and a buggy:

Riders whose helmets had antennae to keep with the space theme:

And I don't know why this man was last, but he was good. A man in a wheelchair, wearing kilts and playing the bagpipes:

Another Small Town Parade - Part 1

I learned at the feed store that the Tri-Town summer festival parade would be the next day in the tiny hamlet of Brasher Falls, so I made it a point to be there. The parade began with the American Legion:

Next in line was the marching band from Chateaugay Central School, nearly an hour's drive east of Brasher Falls:

A clown on roller skates with a flowing, rainbow banner. He was really quite talented:

A country singer in the back of a pickup truck:

The Tri-Town summer recreation program kids. The three towns are Stockholm, Brasher and Lawrence - all too rural to afford much on their own, so they pool their resources:

The theme of the parade was "To Infinity And Beyond," which is why this guy wore a space suit:

The local Methodist church had their own take on the theme:

A country band on the back of the truck:

The Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce:

And the Pack Program, which provides needy school kids with snacks and food:

Cubby the Clown makes his appearance in every parade, so I was not surprised to see him or her again:

I don't know what group this was, but they sure were having fun. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Hopkinton NY Field Days - Part 2

The Hopkinton Field Days Parade was mostly fire trucks (see also Part 1, posted yesterday) from all the surrounding towns and hamlets. This one was from West Stockholm, NY:

JWJ Custom Kitchens:

St. Regis Falls:

The banner on this float said "Nicholville Rec Committee" and was full of children (and one little dog, being carried). I'm guessing it's the town's summer recreation program for kids:

The Girl Scout troop:

And.......um, what is this?

It turned out to be the Hopkinton Historical Group and included a fiddler, livening up the parade with historic tunes:

This was a mystery to me. The little wagon had cushions in it but no riders or displays. Maybe his kids were planning to ride in the wagon but then backed out:

More fire trucks, this one from Norwood, NY:

This retired fire truck appears in all the local parades and is for breast cancer awareness:

Even the "big" village of Potsdam was represented:

The parade always ends with horses, placed last so no marchers accidentally step in horse manure. There were only two horses this time, one of them my neighbor who carried a sign for suicide awareness:

Hopkinton NY Field Days - Part 1

If you are driving along Route 11B and pass this shady town green, you may stop and have a picnic there. It's an inviting place indeed, and where I parked in order to watch the 2018 Hopkinton Field Days Parade. The big sign on the left announces the town's 200th anniversary. Unfortunately, that was in 2002, so it's time to replace it. The smaller sign commemorates the raid of 1814, when British troops seized 300 barrels of flour which were stored in the barns of Col. Hopkins:

I walked across the highway and found a comfortable lawn with shade. From there I could see Wilber's Hardware Store, a handy place to find nearly anything you need when something breaks:

And a historic house, one of the original homes from the early settlers. Of course it's been updated in the years since:


And then the parade began with the American Legion:

They were followed by fire trucks and ambulances from many surrounding towns and hamlets. The first was from Hopkinton itself (Fort Jackson is part of Hopkinton):

Parishville, NY:

And this was a mystery. I think the sign read, "I'm the future dentist." I don't know what it meant either:

And then the fire trucks continued, this one from Nicholville:

And from Morley:

And this float, a taste of chilly winter on that hot day. Their tee shirts said "Polar Blast" and they were passing out bottles of cold water:

And the fire trucks continued. This one was from North Lawrence, home of the yogurt factory:

And from Lawrenceville. There were sure a lot of fire trucks, but I deemed that a good thing, a sign that all the local communities supported each other. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: