Making Spirits Bright: Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce 2021 Christmas In The Park draws crowd

by Rachel Hunter

The North Country community welcomed Santa Claus to Gouverneur, NY in grand fashion on Saturday, December 4 with a day filled with festive fun for local families to enjoy. The 2021 “Christmas In The Park” event was a success with crowds coming to the Gouverneur Village Park to enjoy all the events and activities. The event is made possible due to the sponsorship and organization efforts of the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce.

The highlight of the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Christmas In The Park was the annual Christmas Parade. Crowds lined both sides of Main Street to watch the parade, eager not to miss a moment of the special event. At about 5 p.m., Village of Gouverneur Department of Public Works Supt. TJ Simmons flipped the breakers to turn on the holiday lights in the Gouverneur Village Park. The unveiling wowed all those in attendance. The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce announced that, through the generosity of local community members and area businesses, nearly $25,000 had been raised to replace the decades old, unrepairable holiday lights in the village park. Much applause, cheers and sounds of delight sounded after the new lights were unveiled. All North Country community members and visitors are urged to check out the holiday display at the Gouverneur Village Park now through the holiday season.

The crowd then eagerly turned their attention to Main Street as the annual Christmas parade made its way from Park Street to Main Street. The parade was escorted by the Gouverneur Police Department. Marching next were local dignitaries, including Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine, Village of Gouverneur Trustee Troy Besaw, and Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr.).

Gouverneur Wildcat Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Kurtis Wells drove a festive float, which featured the 2021 Section 10 Class B Champions Gouverneur Wildcat Varsity Girls Soccer Team. The student-athletes included Torie Salisbury, Kiarra Jenkins, Peyton Mussaw, Kaitlyn Gibson, Sierra Billings, Cierra Besaw, Meadow Greenhill, Grace Holmes, Elizabeth Riutta, Raelin Burns, Addison Conklin, Randi Griffith, Chloe Smith, Aurora Hayden and Liberty Burns. Go Wildcats!

The Gouverneur Public Library invited the community youth to join the staff in marching in the parade. All parade attendees were reminded of the many resources at the Gouverneur Library, and encouraged to visit. For more information, call 315-287-0191.

The Oswegatchie Valley Girls Scouts marched in the parade with Terry Streeter (50340 Cadette and Ambassador) and Leaders Sandy McDougall and Kristy McDougall. The Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Cadette troop also marched alongside 60851 Carley Bearden and Chelsei Griffith, and Brownie Troop 60234 Natalie Pitcher and Jeannie Forrester.

Con-Tech Building Systems Inc. wished everyone a Merry Christmas with their festively decorated heavy equipment float.

New York Pizzeria wished everyone “Happy Holidays” and extended gratitude for the community’s support through these times.

Representing the Town of Gouverneur Highway Department, David Perrigo, the newly appointed highway superintendent, drove one of the five plow trucks currently in operation for the maintenance of roads. Behind the plow truck, all levels of Girls Basketball Program (Biddy Ball, Modified, JV and Varsity) athletes and Gouverneur Football Program (PeeWee, Modified, JV and Varsity) athletes. Fear the G! The float won the $50 cash prize from the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce for the best float or marching unit entered in the Annual Christmas Parade.

Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association announced that it was gearing up for the 163rd Gouverneur Fair and the 170th St. Lawrence County Fair. Fair dates are August 2 to 7, 2022. The fair reported that it will be announcing the opening night concert in 2022. The Fair Board wishes all a Merry Christmas, and said they would see everyone at the Fair in 2022.

Larry Bango of Bango Hollow Farm in Oxbow offered his horse-drawn sleigh rides throughout the Christmas In The Park event on Saturday, and also participated in the parade.

Village of Gouverneur DPW & Crew Chris Fitzgerald, Sall MacDonald, Hadley Fitzgerald, and Brandon and Gray Washburn. The DPW truck was festively decorated for the holiday season.

Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, Gouverneur’s hometown bank which has served the community for over 100 year, entered a float and mascot in the parade.

Empire State Mines entered its red tractor with hay wagon in the parade. All enjoyed seeing the smiles and waves of those featured on the float.

The Gouverneur Rescue Squad participated in the parade with A-175 with EMT Garrison Moore and EMT Kasey Aldridge, and A-171 with Driver Jay Ellerson and driver Jeremy Rose. All were wished a safe and happy holidays.

The Gouverneur Fire Department brought Engine 17, driven by Barry Gale, and Rescue 4, driven by TJ Gore.

Merry Christmas wishes were extended from Oxbow Fire Department, which brought their Fighting 33 truck.

As is tradition, the Gouverneur Fire Department facilitated transporting Santa Claus into town atop its R-4 fire truck. This year, he was assisted by helper elf Hillary Bowman. Santa Claus gave a hearty “ho, ho, ho” and wished everyone a “Merry Christmas” during his trip down Main Street and around the Gouverneur Village Park. Santa Claus then made his way to the gazebo in the village park for visits with children. With support from the local business community, the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce was able to gift local children 12 and under with gift-filled stockings. Santa Claus also gave a candy cane to each youth in attendance.

All those in attendance were also welcomed to go to the fellowship hall at the First United Methodist Church of Gouverneur, 34 Grove St., for a special treat of hot cocoa and cookies made possible by the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce. The cookies were baked and decorated by the culinary arts students at Southwest Tech (BOCES) in Fowler. Much joy abound on Gouverneurians faces as they tasted the delightful holiday snack.

The pedestrian safety was ensured thanks to the dutiful efforts of local law enforcement. The Village of Gouverneur also closed of Grove Street and Church Street to allow for safe walking in the downtown area during the parade.

The Annual Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade was assuredly the highpoint of the “Christmas In The Park” event, which was filled with holiday events in the Gouverneur Village Park and beyond, for local families to enjoy. Holiday music filled the downtown area, and drew many community members to the park to enjoy the festive fun throughout the day.

The fun started early in the day with the Gouverneur Lions Club hosting its Christmas Tree Sale fundraiser, starting at 9 a.m. Other events were held throughout the afternoon including S’Mores Station by the Gouverneur Recreation Department, Winter Carnival games and activities by Gouverneur High School students, Christmas caroling by the GHS Chamber Singers and also the Gouverneur Community Chorus led by Dr. Don Schuessler, Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338 Auxiliary provided stockings, candy and more, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and the Gouverneur Garden Club who offered seeds to help with the local beautification effort. There were also vendors and other displays throughout the day, including the from local businesses and clubs, information booths, food vendors and more. Dunkin’ provided free hot cocoa and donuts for all those in attendance. Many also said they enjoyed the scrumptious fare from Mullin’s Family Restaurant of Gouverneur throughout the day as well.

The Gouverneur community also enjoyed shopping local at the craft fairs, held at St. James School and the Gouverneur VFW Post 6338. Many said that they were able to cross items off their Christmas shopping lists, thanks to the dedication of local crafters, artisans and other local businesses.

The holiday fun-filled day culminated at the Gouverneur Community Center for a free movie showing of the classic holiday favorite, Elf, which started promptly at 7:40 p.m.

Much gratitude was extended to the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce for their organization efforts in planning the 2021 “Christmas In The Park” event. There is much anticipation to see how much the event grows in future years. For more information on the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce, visit gouverneurchamber.net.

Ed. Note: See the community calendar in the upcoming weeks for the announcement of more Santa Claus visits throughout the North Country at local businesses and more.