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 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

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

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

HELLO BEACONITES!!!

It’s the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee writing. We are BACK. We are back for Spirit of Beacon Day 2023, the 46th year of this day all because you made it happen last year. Yes you.

The City of Beacon has granted us the permit to once again celebrate this spirit on Sunday, September 24, 2023. That gives us the summer to reach out to you, hear from you, and plan for what you want to bring to the day.

The Committee

The returning Spirit of Beacon Committee members:  Katie Hellmuth (Chair), Jeana Pearl Fletcher (Secretary), Zayed Junior Dabashi (Board Member), and Ali T. Muhammad (Board Member) and our new treasurer Jennifer Garfield-Abrams! 

Nickeya Allen-Smith is now Spirit of Beacon’s contract bookkeeper, training our committee for passing the torch for future management. We are so thankful for her and the wealth of knowledge shared from past leadership to guide us into the future.

Last year we worked with volunteer Spirit Coordinators to produce the music and entertainment portion of the day. So far, we know that Goldee Green, Bosco Michael Faison, Kimberly Dei Dolori and Melissa Shae will be returning. We are looking for other volunteers and coordinators as programming opportunities open up. Please see how to get involved below!

The Mission

The mission of the Spirit of Beacon is to connect the youth with the community. There are ample opportunities for kids of all ages in Beacon. Our mission is to make sure they know about them and have more ways to connect with them. Read about the origins of this day. All parade and vendor table applications are weighed against our mission.

This year, we are especially looking for After School Groups at all of the schools to represent at their own table. Last year, we reserved a block for this. This year, with more time to get the word out, we hope these leaders of those After School Clubs are willing and able to make the time to set up a table, so that the parents, caregivers and kids can see and touch what goes on inside of the schools.

Registration For Parade and Vendor Tables Is Open

You can now register for a spot in the Parade and for a Vendor Table. No fee. A few things to remember:

Parade:

• Is for Beacon organizations and those who serve in Beacon.

• No politicking. Politicians are not allowed to sign up to walk as an individual.

• All parade registrations must be accepted after registration application is submitted.

• Businesses in Beacon can apply for and participate in the parade.

Vendor Tables:

• This is a time for connecting kids and adults with services that enrich their lives. Tables are prioritized for non-profit organizations after school programs If you or your business do not fall in this category, there may be space for your table. Please consider donating and centering your proceedings to a Beacon organization.

How Food Vendoring Will Work

We want your bellies to be full. We are opening food vendoring in a tiered system with deadlines in order to give our non-profits and Beacon businesses priority:

Fees:
$30 Dutchess County Department of Health Food Permit
$35 Spirit of Beacon Table Non-Profit and Beacon Business Rate for Food
$100 Spirit of Beacon Table Food Vendor Rate for Businesses Outside of Beacon.
Deadlines:
First come, first serve based on tier schedule. By the time your tier comes, there might not be space available. No guarantees.

• 1st Priority Tier: Non-Profits and Churches
  Selling food on Spirit of Beacon Day has been a fundraising opportunity for the non-profits, organizations and churches.
  Fee: $35 Table Fee
  Deadline: July 1 - July 31. Don’t wait.

• 2nd Priority Tier: Beacon Businesses
  Our restaurant business friends in Beacon also really need your business. Say all you want about the tourists who come in on the weekends, but very few establishments can survive on weekend traffic alone. With local Beacon not coming out every night of the week, our local restaurants do struggle. We do want you to order from the restaurants.
  This year, Beacon restaurants and businesses can apply for a table. If you are a business (like a barber) who wants to sell food outside your establishment, you can apply.
  Fee: $35 Table Fee
  Deadline: August 1 - August 16. Don’t wait. If space is available by then.

• 3rd Priority Tier:
  If we don’t fill up on food vendors with the first two priority tiers, then food vendors who are businesses and not on Beacon’s Main Street can apply.
  Fee: $100 Table Fee
  Deadline: August 17 - August 31.

Volunteer Opportunities

Throughout the summer, we will post different volunteer opportunities. Most of these will happen in September, as we get closer to The Day. This Committee operates mainly by text. We have lots of group text meetings. We have families and jobs and commitments that make meeting in person very difficult for us.

Right now, we are looking for a Spirit Coordinator for Social Media (in Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok). This person can be well versed in one of these platforms, or all. We can work with volunteers who are good in different platforms.

Register to be a Volunteer here.

Sponsor Opportunities

OMG. We had very little in the bank for 2022, and our business sponsors revived us. THANK YOU. Sponsorship for 2023 will open shortly. We need to do a big Thank You celebration post and social media celebration for our 2022 sponsors first.

The Logo Color

New year, new colors! Continuing with the Tradition. Kim Dei Dolori designed such a cool logo that you all loved and will be available for sale. Volunteers get their own shirts for FREE. Show up and show off Beaconites!

We are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 24, 2023 for the 46th year of this day. We will be in touch with some of you sooner if you sign up for volunteer opportunities.

Look for more updates here at the Spirit of Beacon Day website!

Original Color T-Shirts and Hats Still Available! Limited Supply

Yes, the OG t-shirts are still for sale! Limited supply. Hats also. Click here to shop our store. Free local pickup available.

Vendor Table Placement 2022

Parade Lineup 2022

The flyers are ready!

Sunday, September 25, 2022!!!

11-4 is Community Vendor Tables + Music at Veterans Place, Cross Street, and things to do at Salvation Army Lawn for Kids, and Howland Cultural Center.

1-2pm is Parade. Starts at Main Street and Wolcott and goes to Tioronda.

We need Spirit Volunteers to help pass out these flyers! To storefront windows who accept them, and lampposts.

Bags of flyers are in Accuprint intended for Beacon, Wappingers, Fishkill, Cold Spring, Poughkeepsie.

Go in and pick up (located next to Ziatun and Isamu.

Take what you need and you think you can distribute. Even if you work at Chuck E Cheese or something, post it there!

One of everyone’s biggest concerns for this 45th Year of the Spirit of Beacon Day was the bagpipe bands. Beacon must have the bagpipes! Thankfully, both the Hudson Highlands Bagpipe Band and the Amerscott Bagpipe Band are available for our day!

Thanks to our early sponsors, Key Food Beacon and The Roundhouse, we were able to heavily pursue both bands in the middle of summer vacations to secure that enough bagpipers would be available to perform in Beacon’s 45th Spirit of Beacon Day on Sunday, September 25, 2022. Bagpipers do travel to England every now and again to participate in bagpipe things, so we were lucky that they were available this particular weekend.

Checks have been written, contracts signed. We’re on!

Met with the Chiefs of the City of Beacon (Police and Fire) and Lieutenant Walden and City Administrator Chris White to catch up on coordination for this Big Day — to visualize where the parade participants need to pull up on Wolcott.

The Police team were excited to use their fancy and fun Smart Board to pull up the Google Map. Felt just like we were in the elementary schools (have read to the kindergartners), who also love their Smart Boards for showing all the things.

We’re going to make you a map so that parade participants can see where to pull up! City Administrator tried to duck out of photo, but we got him! He was there!

Sunday, September 25th, 2022. Tell your friends!

Pictured: Chief Sans Frost pointing, and Lieutenant Jason Walden reinforcing street closure plans. Spirit of Beacon’s Treasurer and Spirit Coordinator Nickeya Allen is seated right, and Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis is seated back.

Thanks team, Katie James, Inc., for making these detail maps!

A parade participant preparing for the drive-through parade during the pandemic.

Are you a Beacon-based organization, group, or business? We would love to see you march in Beacon’s Spirit of Beacon Day Parade! This is an opportunity to show the the community and beyond how you impact and nurture Beacon.