Washingtonville Lights Up Skies With Fireworks, Food, Fire & Fun (VIDEOS)
- ejreporter
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 6
By Edie Johnson
Washingtonville/Blooming Grove - It never ceases to amaze how the small Village of Washingtonville, with its extraordinary number of first responders and historic families, always creates some unique ways to recognize a day when it's steeped in their own history. The day began with the Washingtonville Cemetery reminding everyone that as we approach America's 250th Anniversary, there are members of our local 124th Orange Blossom Regiment who died in Gettysburg, proudly giving their lives to pronounce our liberty and freedom to the world, and some of those soldiers are buried right here - a reminder that it is our charge to defend this legacy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
While most of July 5th's daytime was quiet, with families celebrating the holiday at home, things were revved up at L.Vern Allen Park while the Washingtonville Event Committee continued to work their hearts out with about vendors, the Hillbilly Parade Band, the Washingtonville DPW, and the Washingtonville Police Department setting up for the blockbuster evening ahead, making sure that this enormous community celebration would be safe as well as fun.
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As people started arriving slowly, and later in droves, it had a distinct aura of a community activity, a commitment that had been practiced over centuries. Only this time it was on a MUCH grander scale. Aerial and First Responders estimate there were over 5,000 locals coming to consolidate their community to say "This is our America, our country, our home town, and we are coming to show it!" The early arriving groups of fathers, grandfathers, boyfriends and sons came loaded down with blankets, chairs, double backpacks and coolers while the ladies and some of the men pulled wagons full of infants and toddlers, all looking as much like a camping trip as an evening out. Some of the wagons were outfitted with accessories for protection and comfort. One family brought a homemade igloo of sorts for their little one. And they all settled in and began to feast, both on the food they brought themselves and the caravan of cuisine vendors who were cooking aromatic foods that spread yummy scents throughout the Park. Patrick Maiorino says his Event Committee really searched far and away for the 45 Unique Food Choices and Vendors they chose to "fit" their theme.
What was somewhat unique was the extent to which groups arriving early set up their own community gatherings, kind of like local states of a nation, with 6 to 12 chairs, giant blankets, coolers and toys for the little ones. This allowed them to leave their space, visit the vendors and participate in the dancing, while confident that their community space was well preserved.
The Hillbilly Parade band held the audience in the palms of their hands. It's a band they know well, and many pushed forward to join some line dancing to Country Tunes alternating with Rock'n Roll, it was the Grand Opening first use of the NEW BANDSTAND! With the heat climbing into the mid and high 80's, it was a hungry crowd that left the band area and lined up for Hawaiian Ices, Ice Cream, Sodas, Funnel Cakes, Maine Lobster Rolls and Cravenywings plus other exotic foods from across the world, with scents hard to resist.
Meanwhile, brightly painted young ladies sported their Henna face designs adding to the party atmosphere, while toddlers gleamed with pride after practicing some gymnastic skills at the TumbleBus while teens meandered through the crowd hand in hand, and a dozen or so adults visited the (well monitored) Spirit Garden for a coctail or beer.
Hey Mom, I did it!
A popular new travelling Truckin Up venue with some beautiful slightly used clothing at bargain prices.
By about 7:30 additional waves of spectators started arriving, determined not to miss the always amazing Washingtonville Fireworks Display. The Town and Village are 'blessed' or 'cursed' (depending on your viewpoint) with granite ledges along the sides of its Valley that make massive fireworks reverberate and echo such that at times one feels like they are in the midst of a Revolutionary War battle, transporting residents to a time and place 249 years ago. It serves to spark a burst of renewed patriotism and eagerness to contribute to the continued success of our challenges for democracy, equality, freedom and the right to determine our own destiny.
Thank you to the Washingtonville Event Committee and Washingtonville Village Board for their months of work creating this outstanding event!.