By Rob Sample
About 500 people turned out for the Town of Marlborough’s first-ever holiday festival and parade – which took place on Saturday, December 7 at Cluett Schantz Memorial Park.
The festival had an abundant array of crafts for kids to do and other Christmas activities, on-site food trucks, a visit from Santa, musical entertainment, and caroling from local Boy Scouts. But the clear showstopper were the three dozen cars, trucks, and other vehicles festooned with lights and ornaments, who began the town’s first-ever holiday parade on North Road in Milton and wound their way through the town’s streets to be feted by throngs of festivalgoers at the park.
Another first: the lighting of a Christmas tree suspended on a platform built in the middle of the park’s Round Pond.
Jodi Harpolis, a member of the Town of Marlborough Recreation Committee, was pleased with the attendance at the event – despite the cold temps prevailing that afternoon. “Especially considering that this is the first year we’ve done this, this is a fantastic turnout,” Harpolis said.
Mother and daughter Maria and Luciana Bruno both enjoyed getting their faces painted. “We love it, and it’s been fun seeing a lot of my students here today,” said Maria Bruno, who is a reading teacher at Marlboro Elementary School. “It’s a wonderful way to bring the community together.”
“We can’t wait to see the car parade,” said Town of Newburgh resident Rebecca Moses, who attended with her daughter Lynda and their recently adopted rescue pup, Lulu. “We know some of the people who will be in the parade… it should be fun!”
Police Chief Gerald Cocozza pointed out that the festival was promoted extensively on the town’s website, via Facebook, and posters throughout town and at police and fire stations. He also pointed out that people who staff most of the town departments were on hand as volunteers, as were police and firefighters. So too were student groups from Marlboro High School, including the National Honor Society and others.
“It’s a great event – the Recreation Committee has done a wonderful job putting it all together,” Cocozza said.
In addition to the fun, the festival had a charitable side. A “toy table” was set up with wrapped gifts that plenty of festivalgoers purchased for needy families in the area and beyond.
The event even marked a homecoming of sorts for one family who attended. Christina Read grew up in Marlboro but now lives in Jersey City, New Jersey with husband, Daniel and son, Adam. “It’s really cute and great fun for kids,” said Christina Read.
For Daniel Read, the event was even more novel as he’s originally from a much bigger place: London, England. “It’s nice to get the small-town feel … it’s just like the scenes you see in the movies,” he said.