Holiday tradition

Pandemic doesn’t stop the Circleville 4th of July Parade

By Connor Linskey
Posted 7/8/20

The Circleville Fire Company hosted its annual Fourth of July Parade on Saturday. The floats traveled from Renton Road and down Goshen Turnpike and Barone Road before the parade concluded at Sam Fast …

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Holiday tradition

Pandemic doesn’t stop the Circleville 4th of July Parade

Posted

The Circleville Fire Company hosted its annual Fourth of July Parade on Saturday. The floats traveled from Renton Road and down Goshen Turnpike and Barone Road before the parade concluded at Sam Fast Boulevard.

Despite the pandemic, this year’s rendition was just as festive as ever. Dozens of local first responders were joined in the parade by area residents who walked, road bikes or made their own floats.

The parade’s spectators were treated to candy that was thrown to them from the floats. An especially large crowd gathered on Barone Road to enjoy this yearly tradition.

Hot dogs were served at the bottom of the hill at the entrance to Circleville Park. Smiles could be seen all around.

“It was just about giving the community hope and trying to get some semblance of normalcy,” said Walt Szulwach, chief of the Circleville Fire Company.

In early June, Szulwach met with Wallkill Town Supervisor Frank DenDanto III and the Town of Wallkill’s Commissioner of Public Works Louis J. Ingrassia Jr. to discuss the possibility of having the parade. They decided to hold the parade, as the floats and people could be spaced far enough apart. Those who prepared the hot dogs wore masks as well as gloves and individually wrapped the hot dogs in styrofoam containers.

Szulwach noted that he was impressed with the turnout of area residents and fire departments. He was happy with how the parade was received.

“It went smooth. Everybody seemed to be happy,” he said. “I have not received any complaints about it.”