Get Ready For All This Spirit!

Are you all excited?!?! See the amazing groups that will be parading their spirit down Main Street sunday.

 Lastar Gorton will serve as our Grand Marshal for this year's parade. Thank you, Lastar! We are honored to have you leading us.

PARADE LOGISTICS

WHEN TO LINE UP
Arrive at 12pm along Wolcott Avenue (near City Hall). Check-in will be at Polhill Park. Numbered place mats will be waiting for you along Wolcott Avenue and there will be volunteers circulating to assist you to your spot in the lineup. There will also be porta-potties near the Welcome Center for your use. Police will have Wolcott Avenue blocked off so that parade participants can line up safely.

HOW TO GET THERE
If you're driving and coming from the mountain side:
Drive up Teller Avenue, past the Beacon Daily, and turn onto Wolcott Avenue towards Beacon Dental. Continue driving, and you'll be met by a Spirit Volunteer.

Click here for video of route!
*Courtesy of A Little Beacon Blog

If you're driving and coming from the I-84 side:
Drive down 9D/Wolcott Avenue, and take a right on Beekman Street. Circle around, passing Brett's Hardware, the train station, and Dia. You will emerge on Wolcott Avenue. Take a left. Continue driving, and you'll be met by a Spirit Volunteer.

Click here for video of route!
*Courtesy of A Little Beacon Blog

If you're walking:
Come down Main Street or Wolcott to the Visitor's Center. A Spirit Volunteer will meet you.

***PLEASE NOTE: The staircase up from the Beacon Police Station will be closed due to construction. If you park in/walk from that direction, you will need to make your way up the hill.

PARADE ROUTE
The parade proceeds from Main Street and Wolcott Avenue (Bank Square), to Tioronda and Main Street (Howland Cultural Center).

EXITING THE PARADE
Walkers will exit around the bend past Tioronda Avenue (Howland Cultural Center). Drivers will continue on and exit at the end of Main Street, near Melzingah Tap House. Please be sure to exit the parade at the appropriate spot to avoid congestion!

RETURN TO MAIN STREET
Once you have exited the parade, return to Main Street for the Community Tables and Music.

WEATHER
Our rain date is October 6th. We are watching the weather closely and, if needed, will make the call by the end of the day on Friday 9/27.

Please feel free to email us at spiritofbeacon@gmail.com if you have any questions!

-Spirit of Beacon Day Committee

PARADE POSITIONS

1          Marine Corps League Detachment 861
2         Grand Marshal - Lastar Gorton
3          Growing and Empowering Myself and My Sisters Inc.
4          Astor Head-Start
5          Astor Services 
6          Glenham Elementary School
7          JV Forrestal Elementary 
8         Sargent Elementary School 
9         Amerscot 
10        South Avenue Elementary
11         Spirit of Beacon Committee
12        Beacon Girl Scouts
13        Cubscout Pack 1
14        Hudson Hills Montessori
15        City of Beacon 
16        Beacon Community Lions Club 
17        RMS 7/8 Band
18        Beacon Athletics Department 
19        BHS National Honors Society  
20       Beacon Players
21        Beacon City School District 
22       Howland Public Library
23       Beacon Historical Society
24       Beacon Performing Arts Center  

🛶 Beacon Sloop Club

🎉 BHS Concert Band
25        Yanarella School Of Dance 
26        New Covenant Learning Center  
27        Beacon Light Hawks Pathfinder Club
28        Beacon First Presbyterian Church 
29       Goodwill Church Beacon
30        Animal Rescue Foundation 
31         Ballet Arts Studio
32        Miss Queen City of the Hudson  
33        Democratic Socialists of America (Mid Hudson Valley) 
34        A Little Beacon Blog
35        Beacon Soccer Club
36        Beacon Democratic Committee 
37        Dutchess Democratic Women’s Caucus 
38        Evolution Grappling Academy  
39        The World Famed Marching Cobras Drumline and Danceline
40        Beacon Bicycle Coalition
41         Beacon Flag Football League
42        Trinity Council 445 Knights of Columbus
43        Beacon's St. Patrick's Day Parade Of Green 
44        Slater Chemical Fire Company 
45        Chelsea Fire Company
46        Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps 
47        City of Beacon Fire Department

END OF PARADE

spirit of beacon day, this sunday!

Here’s a glimpse of the fantastic vendors who will be joining you in the celebration down Main Street.

TABLE LIST

1. Matcha Thomas

2. Kadampa Meditation Center New York - Beacon Branch

3. Mama La’s Food For The Soul

4. Beacon Prison Rides 

5. Friends Of Howland Public Library

6. Howland Public Library

7. Goodwill Church Beacon

8. Keyfood 

9. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary - Verplanck Flotilla

10. Kappa Eta Eta Sorority Incorporated

11. Makerdale

12. Taconic Healhcare

13. I Am Beacon

14. Hudson Valley Food Hall

15. Hudson Valley Food Hall

16. Beacon's St. Patrick's Day Parade Of Green

17. The Potluck Eatery

18. Rapp- Release Aging People From Prison

19. Midnight Ferry

20. Wee Play Community Project

21. Salem Tabernacle

22. Daydream Collaborative Clinic

23. Beacon Climate Action Now (BCAN)

24. Hidden Rose Catering/ Single Hungry Club

25. BeaconArts

26. Dia Beacon

27. Beacon Light Tabernacle Sda Church

28. The Foundation For Beacon Schools

29. Growing And Empowering Myself And My Sisters Inc.

30. Beacon Of Health Collective

31. Beacon Of Health Collective

32. Walden Savings Bank

33. Cubscout Pack 1

34. Patriot Swim Team & M2o Swim

35. Yanarella School Of Dance

36. Highlands Current Inc.

37. Piano Adventures Beacon

38. St. Rocco Society

39. School Of Rock Beacon

40. Beacon Historical Society

41. Tioronda Garden Club

42. St. James Ame Zion Church

43. Animal Rescue Foundation

44. Pats Kitchen Corp

45. Christ Church, United Methodist

46. Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps

47. Fishkill Creek Watereshed Alliance

48. Conservation Advisory Committee

49. Council on Addiction Prevention & Education of Dutchess Co.

50. Rombout Middle School PTO

51. Howland Chamber Music Circle

52. Hudson Valley Credit Union

53. Beacon Community Lions Club

54. Beacon Players

55. Beacon High School Lady Bulldogs Booster Club

56. Beacon Democratic Commitee

57. Beacon Elks Lodge 1493

58. Fidelis Care

59. Nansense

60. City Of Beacon Professional Firefighters

61. Beacon Pba

62. Mutual Aid Beacon

63. Fareground

64. Masjid Ur Rashid

65. Coast 2 Coast

66. Compass Arts Creativity Project, Inc.

67. Astor Services For Children And Families

68. New Covenant Learning Center

69. La Leche League Of Southern Dutchess

70. Nails By Yoshii

71. A Little Beacon Blog

72. Beauty

73. First Presbyterian Church

74. Democratic Socialists Of America (Mid Hudson Valley)

75. Chabad Of Beacon

76. Candi Cloud Confections

77. Queer Family Network

78. Beacon Bicycle Coalition

79. Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy

80. St Andrew And St. Luke Episcopal Church

81. Hudson Valley's Best

82. The Southern Dutchess Coalition

83. Les Soeurs Amiables Civic Club Inc.

84. The Arc Community League New York

85. Heather’s Hair Haven

86. State Farm

HELLO BEACONITES!!!

We’re back. We are back for Spirit of Beacon Day 2024, the 47th celebration of this day. Without you, the Spirit of Beacon Day doesn’t happen. Thank you. 

Sunday, September 29th, 2024 is the date. We repeat it’s the 47th anniversary: Since 1977, the annual Spirit of Beacon Day has been organized by a volunteer committee, taking place every last Sunday of September as a city-wide celebration featuring festivities and a parade. 

2024 Theme

Each year, the Spirit of Beacon Day has had a theme. Last year, it was “Level Up”, the year prior “the Origin Story.” This year's theme: “Unity in the Community”. Our committee wants the Spirit of Beacon to feel more inclusive. Greater community engagement is the goal for this year's event. We asked our committee what Unity in the Community means to them.

"I think about the origins of this day and how it can serve as inspiration for leading by example and confronting intolerance towards differences. A reminder of the ways in which we can support one another and work towards healing divisions. We all share a common desire to be safe, healthy, and happy in Beacon. Let us continue to keep this in mind in how we show up for one another." Says Spirit of Beacon’s Secretary, Jeana Pearl Fletcher

“Unity in the Community” means fostering a sense of solidarity, mutual recognition, and respect to achieve common goals despite differences in background and beliefs. It means calling our neighbors in and growing together.” Says Spirit of Beacon’s Treasurer, Jennifer Garfield Abrams

“Unity begins with empathy.” Says Spirit of Beacon Board Member, Junior Zayed Dabashi 

“Spirit of Beacon Day is the time of year to demonstrate and showcase how diverse Beacon is. By bringing our energies together as a collective, intentional, holistic spirit, or beacon, a shining light out of the darkness.” Says Spirit of Beacon’s Chair, Ali T. Muhammad

What does Unity in the Community mean to you in Beacon? 

New Additions

• Incorporating more cultural foods and vendors

• Introducing local Rock & Roll, Hip-Hop and R&B music

• Hosting a DJ cipher session

• Create a Spirit of Beacon collage to remember lost community members and share memories, reflecting on the significance of SOB Day to you.

What’s Next

We are thankful for the opportunity to have participated in the 2nd Annual Juneteenth celebration last Wednesday! Photos of joy and hopes for the future of Beacon shared above.

In the spirit of Unity in the Community, we are looking for collaborations with other local organizations to uphold the spirit of Beacon throughout the year. Please email us to let us know how we can support what you have going on!

Want to get involved now?

If there’s an organization or program that benefits the youth and their families in Beacon let us know. Send us your favorite picture from Spirit of Beacon Day. Email or direct message your favorite story from a past Spirit of Beacon day. Sign up to be a volunteer.

Spread the word! September 29th is the 47th Spirit of Beacon Day celebration. 

We thank you for your love of home. We love Beacon. We want to empower Beacon kids. We want a day to celebrate for the whole family.

The Mission

The mission of the Spirit of Beacon is to connect the youth with the community, their neighbors, and local organizations that support them. The goal is to demonstrate there are ample opportunities for kids of all ages in Beacon. Our mission is to make sure the families of Beacon are informed of these positive outlets and knowledgeable of the ways to connect with them.

MAY 1977 THE “COMMUNITY DAY” IS CREATED AS A SOLUTION

One of the positive things to come out of these meetings was the creation of a “Community Day”.  This was to be a day to bring the City together, especially the children and youth.  All were in agreement that the community should get to know one another better, and learn to know what each other liked in conversation, feelings, entertainment, education, and food.  It was now the month of May, almost June.  Would there be enough time to get ready for a “Community Day”, and what would it be called?  The group thought it could be held on the last Sunday in September on Main Street.  Several names were discussed and it was finally decided to it “Spirit of Beacon Day”.  It was to be a day when everyone would come together and attempt a better understanding of each other and the entire community.

Booths featuring food, crafts, and exhibits from local organizations and agencies lined Main Street.  A stage for entertainment was set up on both South Brett Street and South Chestnut Street.  A parade led by the Mayor and City Council marched down Main Street.  The highlight was ensuring every youth person felt embraced and valued as an important part of the celebration.

Spirit of Beacon Day Committee: From left: Jeana Pearl Fletcher, Jennifer Garfield-Abrams, Ali T. Muhammad and Junior Zayed Dabashi.
Photo Credit: Erin-Leigh Hoffman of The Groundhog at Marist College

Written by Katie Hellmuth:

Living in Beacon for me has meant learning what community service really means. I do what I do at A Little Beacon Blog because I want to find information, and I want to be sure those around me have access to that information. Unintentionally, this became my community service.

Through my coverage as a blogger of the Spirit of Beacon Day over the years, and as a citizen experiencing the day, I saw the schools and organizations who I only read about, out on the street. The people in those organizations - the people of whom change all the time as they need to in their lives - those people did everyday volunteer work without needing of acknowledgment. They were people who paid attention and wanted to impact how life is lived here in Beacon.

The Spirit of Beacon Day was a day to see the people making social change out on the streets. Their spirits would come out however they wanted to show it. Vendor tables were reserved for non-profits and service organizations. This was and remains their day to shine.

As a blogger, I have covered 2 instances where the Spirit of Beacon Day almost ceased to happen, when the chair and committee needed to step aside in order to fulfill commitments in their personal lives. The Spirit of Beacon is its own entity. It is not a committee of the City of Beacon, and for a long time, it did not receive money from the city. It did receive complimentary police overtime.

Both of the times the Spirit of Beacon committee needed to cease, there was a releasing of the torch because no one would or could step up. The second time was two years ago, and with only months to spare to produce this huge event that so many people relied upon. I didn't have the time to lead this effort, but I knew that I could do it. I knew I had all of the contacts in my phone, I owned a branding agency who could voluntarily design what was needed. Everyone that could do anything was one text away.

I threw my hat into the ring. But I wasn't the only one. Longtime community members Ali T. Muhammad and Junior Dabashi also threw their hats into the ring. It was decided that I would lead the Spirit of Beacon Day as its Chair and Ali and Junior would serve as Board members. Weeks later, Jeana Pearl Fletcher and Jennifer Garfield-Abrams also came on to serve on the Board to make this event happen. As a Committee, we produced two Spirit of Beacon Days together.

The time has come for me to step aside so that I can get back to blogging and running my businesses to produce for my family so that I can continue to afford living in Beacon.

I am thrilled to announce that Ali T. Muhammad has stepped up and into the Chair position, with Junior, Jeana and Jen continuing to serve on the Board committee. Ali is a born and raised Beaconite, a natural leader, a proven leader in Beacon during his time serving on Beacon’s City Council years ago, and now in his organizing capacities in Newburgh for Next Step Hudson Valley and Melanin Unchained.

I will step off the board and continue to support by giving my Institutional Memory as guidance. My branding agency, Katie James, Inc., will continue to provide volunteer services to the website. A Little Beacon Blog will continue as Media Sponsor in order to get the word out for the Spirit of Beacon Day as needed.

I am so looking forward to seeing and experiencing what Ali produces this year. He is a visionary, gifted with seeing the big picture, and rallying those around him into action. Look for possible changes, and continued spirit.

To the People of Beacon: Thank you for having me.

Anyone interested in joining or rejoining the Committee, or volunteering in any capacity (big or small), please email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com with your interest.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Spirit of Beacon Day 2023! We hope you enjoyed the day, and that the non-profit and community service groups were able to reach many more people on this day. Please send us your photos at any time to spiritofbeacon@gmail.com.

Thank you to the City of Beacon for approving our permit and connecting us with the Highway and Police Departments to make this day run as smoothly as possible.

Thank you to our vendors, Durrants Party Rentals, Herring Sanitation, Aaron Verdile (sound equipment rental) and Bosco and the Storm (sound and stage equipment rental) for working with us as we moved the entire day to the rain date as the storm worsened.

Thank you to our local Sponsors who made financing this possible! And for your cheerleading and support. We could not do this without our local sponsors!

2023 Beacon Of Light Sponsors

2023 Mountain Sponsors

2023 River Sponsors

2023 SPIRIT SPONSORS

Last Outpost
314 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Really cool boutique with a handsome and rugged style. Shirts, hats, sunglasses, custom Beacon mugs and merch, etc.

The Pink Unicorn (aka David Shelley
Look for The Pink Unicorn almost every Saturday and Sunday in Beacon. As the pink unicorn makes its way down Main Street.

The Beacon Creamery
134 Main Street, Beacon NY
Beacon’s go-to for ice-cream on the train-side of the mountain (west side)

Supreme Pianos of NY
1004 Main Street Fishkill
For all your acoustic piano needs, including tuning, sales, repair, moving and storage.

Sara Mikulsky Wellness Physical Therapy, PLLC
18 W. Main Street, Suite 3
Beacon, NY 12508
Sara Mikulsky Wellness Physical Therapy provides holistic healthcare to the Hudson Valley. We provide services such as physical therapy, personal fitness and nutrition coaching. We work with all kinds of clients looking to decrease pain, recovery from surgery, get fit, improve posture and live healthier lives. Feel free to contact us at www.saramikulsky.com to find out how we can help you!

Kitchen Sink
157 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508

Feeds R Us
351 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508

JonCar Realty
451 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508

District Social
511 Fishkill Avenue
Beacon, NY 12508
Axe throwing, full bar, live music, and more.

M+T Bank
200 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508

Main Office Co-Work Space
234 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508
The Main Office Space is a collaboration and co-working space located on Main Street in Beacon. We rent out corporate retreat space, conference rooms and desks by the day, week or month.

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Volunteer Opportunities Open

Volunteers get this year’s pink t-shirt! Only volunteers get this color at this time ;)

Email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com to claim these volunteer opportunities:

• FILLED! Bus Riders of the new Free Spirit Bus (5 volunteers):
  Dutchess County has given us a bus to bring people parking at the train station up to Main Street. We need a volunteer to ride the bus, a volunteer at the train station bus stop, a volunteer at the Forrestal Heights bus stop, and a volunteer at the Main Street/Fishkill Avenue stop at the Salvation Army driveway.
  Day: Sunday, October 1, 2023
  Time: 11am-4:30pm (with a break from 1-2pm)

• Parade Volunteers (5 volunteers):
  Volunteers to be walking up and down Wolcott Avenue helping parade participants know where to line up. This could work for people who are marching in the parade, but also want to volunteer, once you get yourself settled.
  Day: Sunday, October 1, 2023
  Time: 10am-1pm

• Table Sitter at Spirit of Beacon Table - Main Stage at Veterans Place (2 Volunteers)
  A volunteer to sit at the Spirit of Beacon table to sell t-shirts and hats.

  Day: Sunday, October 1, 2023
  Time: 10am-4pm

• Sign Spray Painter (2 or 3 Volunteers)
  Volunteers to spray paint and paint our old yard signs to be re-used as chalk board signs for bathrooms, etc.

  Day: NOW. Needed by Friday or Saturday

The people of Beacon have been amazing after the Spirit of Beacon Committee postponed the entire day. Not an easy decision, we assure you. Thankfully, you all have been really supportive - of marching in the rain, or delaying as the tropical storm got worse.

“The Spirit of Beacon Day Committee tried to absorb the 50+ Beacon Farmers Market vendors into the closed off Spirit of Beacon Day block (we already have 80+ vendor tables). We tried to put them in our map. Katie had a meeting scheduled with the Farmers Market today (Monday) to see if that would work. And if it did not, the Spirit of Beacon Day was fully prepared to advocate once again that the Beacon Farmers Market and Beacon Flea Market be open for the Spirit of Beacon Day this year, and every year.”

— Spirit of Beacon Day

One of the big concerns was what happens to the Farmer’s Market? Both the Farmer’s Market and the Beacon Flea Market are contracted with the City of Beacon to close on Spirit of Beacon Day, because they are in public parking lots. For the two years that Katie Hellmuth has been the chair, she has advocated vocally at meetings with the City Administrator Chris White, Chief Sans Frost and Lt. Jason Walden for the parking lots to be open. Both police officers were afraid of parking issues, having been through the Cupcake Festival parking overcrowding.

Hearing their fear, we agreed to keep the parking lots closed. We noted, however, and Lt. Walden confirmed in 2022, that the DMV lot was maybe 50% full last year. And on any given weekend in Beacon, the DMV parking lot isn’t really utilized by most tourists. But, having gone to the raindate, which may be unprecedented for the Markets’ contract, challenged the contract. Are the markets open the following weekend for the rain date?

The Spirit of Beacon Day Committee tried to absorb the 50+ Beacon Farmers Market vendors into the closed off Spirit of Beacon Day block (we already have 80+ vendor tables). We tried to put them in our map. Katie had a meeting scheduled with the Farmers Market today (Monday) to see if that would work. And if it did not, the Spirit of Beacon Day was fully prepared to advocate once again that the Beacon Farmers Market and Beacon Flea Market be open for the Spirit of Beacon Day this year, and every year.

“The Spirit of Beacon Day fully recommends that this forced closure be removed from both contracts of the Beacon Farmers Market and Beacon Flea Market. We need them. We need both markets to help people move throughout the city. And the markets need regularity to prosper and survive.”

— Spirit of Beacon Day

Today we learned from Chris White, after he was presented with several compelling points from the managers of the Beacon Farmers Market of why they should stay open, that he has granted both markets to be open this year, with no promise for next year. The Spirit of Beacon Day fully recommends that this forced closure be removed from both contracts of the Beacon Farmers Market and Beacon Flea Market. We need them. We need both markets to help people move throughout the city. And the markets need regularity to prosper and survive.

We have faith in the people of Beacon that they will be tolerant of parking overflow onto side streets on this day.

Below is the speech in full from Katie, to thank all of the vendors who have been so generous to us with the postponement:

Hello,

I am Katie Hellmuth, Chair of the Spirit of Beacon Day.

Due to the tropical storm that advanced on Saturday, we made the very difficult decision to postpone it to the following Sunday, October 1st.

We the Committee want to thank the people of Beacon who were ready to come out in the rain and to our performers who also were ready to perform in the rain. While it rained on the parade last year, it was sunny(ish) before and after. The following weekend of the rain date was actually worse weather.

We didn't want that to happen again, even though there was sunshine on the following Sunday this time. The forecast was flickering.

When the weather forecast was getting worse on Wednesday, we checked with all of our contract vendors to see if they could continue to the next weekend, and what the financial hit would be.

While the forecast showed some some rain next weekend, we stayed the course.

But the weather worsened on Saturday. We started hearing from people who were packing extra tents to keep the kids covered in any kid activity. We checked with different organizations to get a read on the parents and kids, and as the wind blew, we made the decision to postpone. We didn't know how bad Sunday would be, and the risk was not worth it to us.

Given that we had everything in place for the following weekend, we moved very quickly to alert everyone.

We want to thank Lt. Jason Walden for being at the ready to take our phone call on Saturday and immediately alert the Police and Highway Departments.

We were prepared to take the financial hit of our rentals, but our vendors have been very kind and generous to us.

We want to thank our porta potty company Herring for leaving the bathrooms in place.

Thank you Durrants for charging us only a little extra to leave the stage in place.

Thank you Dutchess County for giving us the bus to route people from the Train Station to Main Street from 11-4:30pm (taking a break from 1-2pm during the parade).

Thank you to all of our performers for being available again!

Table vendors have been amazing. Most are still coming, and we just got a new signup.

Most importantly, the schools, PTAs PTOs, parents and kids. You were ready then, and you said a big YUP when we rescheduled. In fact, one of the first texts I received was: "Thank you! Now, if only Soccer would cancel!"

Regarding the Farmer's Market closing so that the DMV parking lot can be available. The Farmers Market and Beacon Flea vendors take a large financial loss when the market closes for the Spirit of Beacon Day.

For this rain date, the City of Beacon has agreed to let both markets be open in their parking lots. This is huge, and everyone should tell all your friends to park at the MTA Train Station and use the free bus which comes ever 25 minutes.

Next year, both markets should continue to be open, as they are a huge enhancement to the City of Beacon. For those vendors, the weekend markets cover some of their payrolls. So they need to stay open. We tried to configure them in a map within Spirit of Beacon, but the nature of the refrigerated vans several of the vendors need to resupply their inventory, they really need to stay in their same parking lot spot. Regular customers can find them easier also.

Thank you to the Spirit of Beacon Committee. We are blessed to have each other. We keep each other calm, and ask good questions as we sort out logistics. Many thanks to the table and parade map genius who is constantly re-configuring in order to fit in people's requests where we can.

See you next Sunday, October 1st from 11-4pm everyone!

Due to the advancement of the storm that now has a name, Tropical Storm Ophelia, we are postponing the Spirit of Beacon Day to October 1, 2023. Same place, same times.

With everyone’s schedules and effort, and the weather forecasts, we were hoping that most of the rain would fall on Saturday. But it is looking delayed, and may fall heavier on Sunday with winds and those cool temperatures. The forecast seems to be holding for sunshine next Sunday. Otherwise, we would have pushed through the original date.

With all of the kids coming, and with the sunshine now staying in a forecast of sunshine, we are more comfortable with this move during hurricane season.

Thank you to everyone who dug in and were packing their cars with double tents to account for the rain to keep people dry. We hope you can continue to join us next Sunday. Thank you to the enthusiasm of Beaconites who were digging in to attend in the rain and voiced their support.

Please share with your friends to get the word out.

See you next Sunday.

The Spirit of Beacon Day is continuing on as planned for Sunday, September 24, 2023. With many prayers! After refreshing the weather apps hundreds of times, causing much debate and calls to vendors and performers for all the consideration that is involved with moving to a rate date…the Spirit of Beacon Day Is ON!!

September 24, 2023 from 11am-4pm. Parade steps off at 1pm!

K104 will be there during the parade lineup, and the Volunteer Awards will be given there as well. The Highland Bagpipe Band will lead the parade, followed by this year’s Grand Marshall Retired Beacon Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis, with all of the participants in the middle including the Beacon City Schools, the Rombout Middle School Marching Band, and will conclude with high energy from the Marching Cobras.

Get the list off everyone who will be in the parade here.

Watch the video for an inside look at how hard it is to make this decision. See you there!!

The Parade Lineup

1 The Amerscot band

2 Grand Marshall - Retired Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis

3 Pedago Beacon Bikes and Cars

4 Astor Services

5 Glenham Elementary School

6 JV Forrestal Elementary School & PTSO

7 Sargent Elementary School & Sargent PTO

8 New Covenant Learning Center

9 South Avenue Elementary

10 Spirit of Beacon

11 Beacon Girl Scouts

12 Scouts BSA Troop 41

13 Miss Queen City of the Hudson

14 Beacon teachers’ association

15 Howland Public Library

16 City and State Members

17 Beacon Light Hawks Pathfinder Club

18 The Pink Unicorn

19 Rombout Middle School 7/8 Band

20 Beacon City School District

21 BHS Varsity Cheerleaders

22 BHS Concert Band

23 BHS NHS (Beacon High School National Honor Society)

24 Ballet Arts Studio

25 Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

26 Artists on the March

27 Beacon CSD Athletic Department

28 Sun River Health

29 Beacon Historical Society

30 Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health

31 Beacon Jeep Club

32 Slater Chemical Fire Company

33 Eastern New York Region Hudson Valley Chapter of The American Red Cross

34 School of Rock Beacon NY

35 The ARC Community League

36 Yanarella School of Dance

37 Beacon Community Lions Club

38 A Little Beacon Blog

39 Caitlin McVicker State Farm

40 Trinity Council Knights of Columbus

41 Beacon Performing Arts Center

42 Beacon Sloop Club

43 Beacon Soccer Club

44 Beacon Bike Coalition

45 The Marching Cobras

END OF PARADE

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Table Vendors

Positions of table vendors are in the maps pictured above.

1 Beacon Chamber of Commerce

2 Beacon Boi

3 Beacon City Council

4 River Pool at Beacon

5 Friends of Howland Public Library- Beacon Reads

6 Howland Public Library

7 BonfireWORKS Foundation

8 Keyfood Kettle Corn

9 Keyfood

10 I Am Beacon, Inc

11 I Am Beacon, Inc

12 I Am Beacon, Inc

13 Beacon Prison Rides

14 Hudson Valley Food Hall

15 Hudson Valley Food Hall

16 Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

17 Beacon's St. Patrick's Day Parade Of Green

18 Sânt Hair Collective

19 BeaconArts

20 Midnight Ferry

21 Wee Play Comments Project

22 Salem Tabernacle

23 Beacon Performing Arts

24 Dia:Beacon

25 Single and Hungry Club w/ Hidden Rose

26 Howland Chamber Music Circle

27 RAPP- Release Aging People from Prison

28 St Rocco Society

29 Beacon Light Tabernacle

30 Fishkill Rotary Club

31 Berkshire Farm Center Services

32 Friends of Fishkill Supply Depot

33 Tabernacle of Christ Church

34 Cub Scouts Pack 1

35 Growing and Empowering Myself and My Sisters Inc.

36 Pat's Yard Vibes

37 Yanarella school of dance

38 Highlands Current

39 Beacon Sons and Daughters of Italy, St. Francis of Assisi Lodge #2629

40 Dutchess Community College

41 BHS Senior Class

42 St Joachim-St John Women’s Parish Club

43 Sun River Health

44 Sun River Health

45 St. James AME Zion Church

46 Twins Babarshop

47 ARF

48 Tioronda Garden Club

49 Christ Church United Methodist

50 Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps

51 A Little Beacon Blog

52 Beacon Climate Action Now

53 Spirit of Beacon

54 BHS Clubs x Pulsera Project

55 BHS Student for Gender Equality

56 HV Credit Union

57 BHS Beacon Players

58 BHS Lady Bulldog

59 NYS United Teachers/BeaconTeachers Association

60 Beacon Dem Committee

61 Beacon Elk's Lodge #1493

62 Beacon PBA

63 City of Beacon Fire Department

64 Conservation Advisory Committee

65 Beacon Historical Society

66 Taconic Healthcare

67 Beacon Tree Advisory Committee

68 St Andrew and St. Luke Episcopal Church

69 Hudson Valley's Best

70 Mid-Hudson Maker Hub

71 Stony Killl Foundation

72 The ARC Community League New York

73 Mama La's Food For The Soul

74 FT Beacon

75 Traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Committee

76 Masijid Ar-Rashid

77 Coast 2 Coast

78 Southern Dutchess Coalition

79 New Covenant Learning Center

80 Astor Head Start

81 Little Water Preparatory Charter School

82 Kumon

83 CompassArts

84 Patriot Swim Team and M2O swim

85 Fidelis Care

86 Dutchess County Sheriff's Office Jail Division

Hello Vendor Table People!

If you are getting this email, it is because you registered and were accepted to have a table in the Spirit of Beacon Day festivities on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

There are a few points covered in this email:

• Setup/Breakdown times

• Table etiquette

• Food you are providing/selling (if any)

• Table Assignments and Locations (at bottom of email)

TIME:

10am: Setup. That is when the Beacon Police are closing the side streets and our part of Main Street, from Brett Street (Amacord) to Teller Avenue (Yankee Clipper Diner).

If you need to come earlier, you can. But the road won't be closed.

4pm: Breakdown. We will break down at 4pm, and the Highway Department will help get rid of the trash. Please do you part and pick up any trash you see, even if it isn't yours.

1pm Heads Up: At 1pm, the parade starts. Your table will be on the sidewalk, so the parade will pass right by you. But interaction with your table will slow from 1-2pm.

Bring water. You'll get thirsty.

BATHROOMS:
To help people not go into businesses for the bathrooms, Spirit of Beacon Day provided the following porta-potties for you. Accessible bathrooms are available at each location. It is with the support of our sponsors that this could happen! Please refer people to these bathrooms:

• Corner of North Brett & Main St (near Key Food)

• Corner of Eliza & Church (far corner Rite Aid Parking Lot)

• Corner of South Chestnut & Henry St (far corner Rite Aid Parking Lot)

• Pohill Park behind visitors center along Wolcott Ave

• Corner of North Chestnut and Church St (near St. Rocco's)

CONTACT PERSON

Your point person of contact will be Katie Hellmuth. She is the Spirit of Beacon Chair, and is at-the-ready for your calls.

TABLE ETIQUETTE:

Your table will be in front of a business, but not blocking the business front door. We need to make the businesses as accessible as possible. Beacon businesses will be open on this day. Encourage your visitors to browse the business behind you.

DON'T BLOCK A BUSINESS' DOOR
Set up to the right or left of the business you are in front of. Leave a clear path to their door so that the public can get in. Please do not pile up your stuff in front of their storefront. The public still needs to walk behind you on the sidewalk to get to stores. Use the space under your table for that. Thank you!

FOOD

Dutchess County Health Inspector Shannon Fatum strongly encourages you to:

• Be ready for wind. According to Shannon, it has been windy, and blows out fire for the warmers under the food. She recommends building a block with tin foil. Bring extra tin foil.

• Bees. They are out and they are heavy. We can't control them, but be aware.

LOCATION OF YOUR TABLE:

Here it is. The announcement you've been waiting for. The first is the list. The second is the list as presented visually in blocks on the street. Please email us with any questions or concerns to spiritofbeacon@gmail.com

View fullsize

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Biggest FAQ Today: What are you doing for rain?

We do have a Rain Date. Rain Date is October 1st. Actual Date is Sunday, September 24th from 11am-4pm, with the parade going at 1pm. There is some rain predicted for Sunday. Some apps say it is until early morning 1am, some say longer. Last year, we marched. It only rained on the parade, and stopped before and after. The following weekend was terrible weather. So it was good we pushed through. IF the rain is really bad, and we go to Rain Date, then we will announce early on Sunday morning. We balance the need of the kids, our food vendors, musician, travel schedules, and your happiness in this decision. If it's drizzling, we will most likely go. If it's pouring, that's a different story. Get your cutest rain boots ready. But it could be sunny/cloudy!!

Hello Spirit Paraders!

Everyone is looking forward to seeing you in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade. You have been working hard, and the day is almost here.

THEME:
The theme of this year’s parade is “Level Up.” Read all about that meaning here.

LINEUP LIST:
The Parade Lineup List is at the bottom of this email and in the graphic above.

Here is what you need to know about getting to and lining up for the parade:

WHEN TO LINE UP:
Arrive at 12pm. The parade steps off at 1pm sharp.

During lineup, we will be awarding the Spirit of Beacon Volunteer Award under the K104 tent. The radio station is returning this year to bring you music during the lineup. Honorees this year are:

• Carman Johnson

• Susan Pagones

• Gwenno James

• Karen James

LINEUP TIME:
12pm: Lineup is at 12pm Sunday, September 24th, 2023 along Wolcott Avenue (alongside the Police Station and the apartments). There will be a porta-potty near the Welcome Center. Police will have Wolcott Avenue blocked off so that parade participants can line up safely.

1pm: Parade starts at 1pm. Keep in mind, the entire day is open from 11am-4pm. The Community Tables will be set up and active in the middle of Main Street. Once the parade goes through, the people will have gathered onto the sidewalk. All tables will also be on the sidewalk for the whole day to accommodate the parade.

EXITING THE PARADE:
Walkers will exit at Tioronda (Howland Cultural Center).
Drivers will continue on and exit at the end of Main Street, near Melzingah's.

CONTINUE TO MAIN STREET:
Once you are done, return to Main Street for the Community Tables and Music. The afternoon will feature:
Veterans Place Stage
Bosco and the Storm
Beacon Rising Choir
TonyE

Cross Street Stage
Beacon Music Factory Students
Watson
Entropy Machine
Beacon Youth Jazz Orchestra

HOW TO GET THERE:
If you're driving and coming from the mountain side:
Drive up Teller Avenue, past the Beacon Daily, and turn onto Wolcott Avenue towards Beacon Dental. Continue driving, and you'll be met by a Spirit Volunteer.

Watch video of north route here!
 
If you're driving and coming from the I-84 side:
Drive down 9D/Wolcott Avenue, and take a right on Beekman Street. Circle round, passing Brett's Hardware, passing the train station, passing Dia, and come out on Wolcott Avenue. Take a left on Wolcott. Continue driving, and you'll be met by a Spirit Volunteer.
 
If you're walking:
Come down Main Street or Wolcott to the Visitor's Center. A Spirit Volunteer will meet you.

WEATHER:
We are watching the weather. Last year did rain on the parade, but the weather was even worse the following weekend. If needed, we will make the call early on Sunday morning.

Refresh the Spirit of Beacon website home page for if it is moved to rain date, but we are really hoping not.

Bring water. You'll get thirsty.
 
PARADE ROUTE:
Goes from Main Street and Wolcott Avenue (Bank Square), to Tioronda and Main Street (Howland Cultural Center)
Lineup is along Wolcott Avenue.

POINT OF CONTACT:
Email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com with any questions.
 
Our Grand Marshal for our 46th year is Retired Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis.

Click here for additional information on parking, bathrooms, etc.!

PARADE POSITIONS:
1 The Amerscot band

2 Grand Marshall - retired Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis
(Sponsored by a sports car by Pedago Beacon - get your next car from them)

3 Pedago Beacon Bikes and Cars

4 Astor Services

5 Glenham Elementary School

6 JV Forrestal Elementary School & PTSO

7 Sargent Elementary School & Sargent PTO

8 New Covenant Learning Center

9 South Avenue Elementary

10 Spirit of Beacon

11 Beacon Girl Scouts

12 Scouts BSA Troop 41

13 Miss Queen City of the Hudson

14 Beacon teachers’ association

15 Howland Public Library

16 City and State Members

17 Beacon Light Hawks Pathfinder Club

18 The Pink Unicorn

19 Rombout Middle School 7/8 Band

20 Beacon City School District

21 BHS Varsity Cheerleaders

22 BHS Concert Band

23 BHS NHS (Beacon High School National Honor Society)

24 Ballet Arts Studio

25 Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

26 Artists on the March

27 Beacon CSD Athletic Department

28 Sun River Health

29 Beacon Historical Society

30 Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health

31 Beacon Jeep Club

32 Slater Chemical Fire Company

33 Eastern New York Region Hudson Valley Chapter of The American Red Cross

34 School of Rock Beacon NY

35 The ARC Community League

36 Yanarella School of Dance

37 Beacon Community Lions Club

38 A Little Beacon Blog

39 Caitlin McVicker State Farm

40 Trinity Council Knights of Columbus

41 Beacon Performing Arts Center

42 Beacon Sloop Club

43 Beacon Soccer Club

44 Beacon Bike Coalition

45 The Marching Cobras

END OF PARADE

For people parking at the free MTA train station at the Beacon stop (weekends are free parking), Dutchess County has agreed to designate a bus to be a free shuttle service from the train station up to Main Street, making a loop all day (with a break for lunch during the parade).

Amanda Sammon, Assistant Director of Public Transit for Dutchess County, along with the support of Michael Grattini, Director of Public Transit, with the encouragement of Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, spearheaded the move to designate the free shuttle bus for Spirit of Beacon Day attendees who are parking for free in the MTA Train parking lot, as well as those living in the Forrestal Heights community and surrounding area. The drop-off point for attendees will be Main Street and Fishkill Avenue, but up a little further near the Salvation Army parking lot, so as not to crowd that intersection.

This bus will not impact or replace other bus routes that go on Sunday.

How The Free Bus Will Work For Spirit Of Beacon Day

SERVICE SCHEDULE
Service will run from 11am-4:30pm, with a break between 1-2pm, when the parade runs.

Route loop will take 20-25 minutes to complete

The Shuttle Bus will begin at the Beacon Train Station at 11am. It will continue driving the route on the map shown above until 1pm, at which point the driver will park at the Beacon Train Station and take a lunch break.

This route should take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to perform the entire loop, so riders will not have to wait too long if they miss it the first time.

At 2pm, the Shuttle Bus will leave the Beacon Train Station and continue performing the same loops until 4:30pm. The Shuttle Bus will only load/unload passengers at the three agreed upon stops:

• Beacon MTA Train Station

• The intersection of Route 52/Fishkill Avenue and Main Street (with the actual stop at the Salvation Army driveway)

• Forrestal Heights

You must register to be in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade! Even if you’ve rolled in this parade X times before, we need you to register! This is so that we can send you emails about the day. How to lineup. Where to lineup. And we chalk your place in line on the sidewalk on Wolcott Avenue. Please register now! Parade is Sunday, September 24, 2023

https://www.spiritofbeacon.org/parade-application

Two musical stages are returning for this year’s Spirit of Beacon Day: The Main Stage at Veterans Place (next to Post Office and Towne Crier), and the garden at Cross Street. This year will mark the final year (most likely) for the Cross Street garden, as the building that has been slated there for years is finally going into construction. The landowners have graciously allowed the Spirit of Beacon Day to have one more concert there before the shovels go in. So…come to move your body as a final send-off to that location!

Music will begin from 11am-1pm at both stages. At 1pm, the music will pause as the parade comes through Main Street. Music at both stages will pick up again from 2-4pm. Thank you to Goldee Green for being our Musical Spirit Coordinator for Veterans Place, and to Stephen Claire of Beacon Music Factory for curating the stage at Cross Street.

Musical Lineup at Veterans Place Stage

Beginning at 11am:

Beacon Players Drama Club
School of Rock Band
GG & The Shades

Musical Lineup at Cross Street Stage

Beginning at 11am:

Mystery Band
The Dummy Lights

Spirit of Beacon Volunteer Award Announcement at Pohill Park:

Beginning at 12:30pm:

The Spirit of Beacon Volunteer Awards will be announced at Pohill Park, with the help and amplification of K104, who is returning this year to announce parade participants (thank you, Woodman and the K104 team!). This year, the Spirit of Beacon Committee is awarding the following people for their unwavering support and commitment to the City of Beacon:

Susan Antalek: For her decades of support both financial and volunteer for community of Beacon.
Gwenno James: For her commitment in various volunteer roles, and chairing and keeping alive the Spirit of Beacon Day during the pandemic.
Karen James: For her dedication to volunteering to various events and causes around the City of Beacon over the years.
Carmen Johnson: For her ever-present volunteering and supportive efforts to whatever is needed to help the community of Beacon succeed.

Musical Lineup at Veterans Place Stage

Beginning at 1pm:

Beacon Players Drama Club
School of Rock Band
GG & The Shades

Musical Lineup at Veterans Place

Beginning at 2pm:

Bosco and the Storm
Beacon Rising Choir
TonyE

Musical Lineup at Cross Street Stage

Beginning at 2pm:

Beacon Music Factory Students
Watson
Entropy Machine
Beacon Youth Jazz Orchestra (rumor has it this group is morphing into an Afrobeat direction…this is your chance to follow them)

The Spirit of Beacon Committee presented the agenda to the City Council and the public tonight, September 11, 2023. Listen to it here.

Beacon's highly anticipated event, The Spirit of Beacon Day, takes place on Sunday, September 24th from 11am-4pm. This event was established in 1977 in response to racial tensions between Beacon's youth and the community. As a result, various community leaders from our local churches, library, police, City Council, and others came together to figure out what to do. A solution proposed was a community day. Said one of the original backbones of the Spirit of Beacon Day, Nan Whittingham, about the origin in the Beacon Evening News in 1986: "Everyone was in agreement that we, the community, should get to know one another better. It was agreed we should learn to know each other's likes and dislikes regarding conversation, feelings, entertainment, education and food."

Come to enjoy a variety of different foods from professionals, churches and organizations, as well as get to know services available at vendor tables. Music performances at 2 stages will be going all day at the Main Stage at Veterans Place, and the secondary stage at Cross Street. The big parade kicks off at 1pm and goes down Main Street.

The day starts at 11am, where Main Street is blocked off from South Brett Street (Key Food) to Teller Avenue (Yankee Clipper Diner). Both businesses are one of our sponsors this year, and we thank them very much. It is with sponsor support that this day can get produced. Sponsors this year include:

Beacon of Lights:

Key Food
The Roundhouse
The Station
Carter's Restaurant
For the second year in a row, Beacon Recreation Department where financing of Stage and Sound at Veterans Place Stage, and the Stage at Cross Street was provided.

Mountain Sponsors:
Remark Printing
Verplanck Auto
Faust Design Build

River Sponsors:
Hudson Valley Food Hall
Rabe and Co.
Yanarella Dance
Beacon Natural
Hudson Valley Credit Union
Dennis Vetrano Law
Bar Down Studio

Spirit Sponsors:

Last Outpost
The Pink Unicorn
Feeds R Us
JonCar Realty
Sara Mikulsky Wellness Physical Therapy
Supreme Pianos of NY
Kitchen Sink
District Social
M+T Bank
Beacon Digital + Main Office Co-Work Space

FOOD
We heard from the people, and the people wanted more street food. Last year, Beacon's restaurants were so happy because people ordered and filled the tables. This year, we dedicated more vendor tables to food choices, so come prepared to eat from:

St. Rocco's
Sons and Daughters of Italy
Beacon Boi hot dogs from Paul Yeaple formerly of Poppy's
I Am Beacon
BHS Class of 2025
Pat's Yard Vibes
St. Joachim - St. John the Evangelical
Coast 2 Coast
Beacon Light Tabernacle
The Mosque Masjid Ur Rashid
Tabernacle of Christ Church
Mama Mama La's Food for the Soul
Key Food grill
Key Food fresh Kettle Corn
Tommy Empanadas
Carter's Restaurant
Single and Hungry

MUSIC
Playing on the Main Stage at Veterans Place:
The Beacon Players
School of Rock Band
GG & the Shades
The parade will roll through, and then Bosco and the Storm will kick off followed by the Beacon Rising Choir and closing out with TonyE, returning all the way from NYC for us.

PARADE
Most importantly, who will we be seeing in the parade?
So many of you, and if you haven not registered yet, please do so now! Even if you march every year, please get into our spreadsheet.
The Rombout Middle School band will be marching and playing this year.
Yanarella School of Dance
Artists on the March
Passion The Adult Dance Studio
The incredible Marching Cobras are returning this year!
As are the Highlands Bag Pipe Band.
Slater Chemical Fire Company
Beacon National Honor Society
Ballet Arts
Beacon Girl Scouts
Beacon Light Hawks Pathfinders
And others.

For our Table Vendors, lots of awareness is coming to you, and we have saved tables specially for After School Clubs of the Beacon City School District.

We saved you a spot to come out of the school and onto the street so that everyone can meet you and see the effort you bring to the students in the district.

Students for Gender Equality have signed up, and we hope more do as well.

KIDS SECTION

The Kids Section this year will include activities from Compass Arts and Kumon.

PARKING
Please tell your friends to park in the free parking lots in Beacon. These include the DMV Parking Lot, the Police Station parking lot right here at Town Hall, and down at the Train Station. Dutchess County has agreed to consider running the free Beacon Loop to help bring people up from that parking lot.

VOLUNTEERS

As for volunteers:

We need a sign painter for 2 big wooden boards.
People to pass out flyers.
People to chalk yard signs with bathroom and parking lot signs.
Stay up to date at Spirit of Beacon's website: www.spiritofbeacon.org and follow at Instagram @spiritofbeacon and on Facebook @spiritofbeaconday

Thank you to Beacon Natural @beaconnatural for sponsoring Spirit of Beacon Day! Beacon Natural gets behind many community events. Remember that time years ago that the fireworks almost didn’t happen and Beacon Natural with @verplanckauto made sure it did with other sponsors? 🙌🏽🙌🏽

Thank you @yanarelladance for sponsoring Spirit of Beacon Day !! Sixty years in Beacon, they have taught so many dancers from youth, some of whom return to teach. Watch Yanarella in the parade, and visit their table on the day! Their Fall classes have dropped, so check those out and get plugged in!

Because of you sponsors, Spirit of Beacon can support and hire the @marchingcobrasofny again this year!! You saw them last year in the parade, felt their energy, and they are coming back for the parade! Thank you! The Spirit of Beacon Day is Sunday, September 24, from 11am-4pm. The parade is from 1-2pm. Enjoy! See you there! Tell your friends! 🙌🏽

The Pink Unicorn 🦄 is BACK as a sponsor of Spirit of Beacon Day! @pink_unicorn_of_beacon This unicorn helps make Beacon Beacon. Also look for the unicorn in the parade. Come out Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 11am-4pm. See you there!