Chamber kicks off holiday season with festive celebration

by Rachel Hunter

Gouverneurians came together on Saturday, December 7 in the Gouverneur Village Park to celebrate the start of the 2024 holiday season.

The Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade and festivities in the Gouverneur Village Park on Saturday, December 7. The event featured fun for the whole family with the annual Christmas parade, visits with Santa Claus, a mechanical reindeer ride, and refreshments. It was sponsored by Kinney Drugs, Lawrence Manor, Bonaparte Pharmacy, Community Health Center of the North Country, and St. Lawrence Health’s Gouverneur Hospital. The event highlighted the newly renovated Gouverneur Village Park, and Santa Claus visits were held in the new Gouverneur Village Park Gazebo.

The fun started at 2 p.m. with the opportunity to ride the mechanical reindeer, and enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides (thanks to Bango Valley Percherons in Richville) around the Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association parking lot. Many also enjoyed the opportunity to warm up in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church of Gouverneur, enjoying hot cocoa and Christmas cookies. Over 800 cookies were prepared in advance of the event by the culinary arts students at Southwest Tech (BOCES) in Fowler and local bakers (Sweet Creations by Lindsey, Rock Island Sweet Treats, Rustic Rise Sourdough & Supplies, Sweet Treats Up The Street, and Shay Can Bake). North Country residents also enjoyed coloring alongside photo opportunities and visits from Mrs. Claus and a North Pole elf.

North Country families were awestruck by how the Village of Gouverneur Department of Public Works had decked out the Gouverneur Village Park in readiness for the holiday season. The park once again featured the lit snowflakes and arch décor that was purchased following the Chamber’s 2021 Light Up Our Village fundraising campaign. Over $20,000 was raised, thanks to nearly 50 local businesses and community members. The community was also impressed with all the holiday lights installed in the Gouverneur Village Park Gazebo. Others were thrilled to see the traditional wooden holiday decorations (Santa, nativity, carolers, and more) installed for the community’s enjoyment. Local businesses were also open on Saturday night, and the Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce encouraged all to “shop local” this holiday season and beyond. 

By 5 p.m. on Dec. 7, the North Country families had lined the sidewalks to enjoy the annual Christmas parade. Traffic control was handled throughout the event by local law enforcement, led by the Village of Gouverneur Police Department.

The parade was announced by Gouverneur Chamber Director Raymond Babowicz, assisted by Executive Director Donna Besaw and Director Donna Lawrence. They announced the parade from the Village’s temporary stage installed by the village gazebo.

The lead car in the 2024 Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade was the Village of Gouverneur Police Department apparatus, driven by Gouverneur Police Department Chief of Police Darren Fairbanks. Other law enforcement in the parade included the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police.

Local dignitaries in the parade included Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine, Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., and Town of Gouverneur Councilman Curran Wade.

The festively decorated Town of Gouverneur Highway Department plow truck, driven by Larry Allen and passenger Lorrine Allen, pulled the float featuring the Gouverneur Wildcat Football and Girls Basketball Program. The decorated Village of Gouverneur DPW truck was driven by Village of Gouverneur DPW Deputy Supt. Chris Fitzgerald with passenger Hadley Fitzgerald.

The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce awarded its $50 prize to the Wild Wood Wrangler 4-H Club in appreciation of their equestrian display.

The local businesses participating included Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce’s Marble Sponsor Kinney Drugs, which was founded in Gouverneur in 1903. Other local businesses in the parade included the following: Newvine’s NAPA Auto Parts in Gouverneur, New York Pizzeria, McDonalds of Gouverneur, Black Lake Wedding & Party Rentals, Bango Valley Percherons, and PIXELIT with holiday greetings from Northern Credit Union. Local clubs and organizations participating included: Gouverneur Farmers Market, North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council (NCPPC)’s Gouverneur Family Resource Center, and the Tri-County Jeep Club.

The Gouverneur Fire Department brought three apparatuses. Engine 17 was driven by Thomas Haynes and Amber Haynes. ETA-101 was driven by Dale Johnson and Sheila Johnson. The Gouverneur Fire Department was tasked by the North Pole to safely bring Santa to the park so he could meet with all the local children – and many of the youngest set squealed in excitement as they spotted Santa Claus waving atop GFD’s Rescue 4, driven by Dorwin Gore and Steve Bos. Other fire departments participating included: Richville Volunteer Fire Department (Michael Thomas, Keirsten Thomas, Corie Farr and Tammy Jenkins), and Oxbow Volunteer Fire Department’s Fightin’ 33 (driven by Chief James Maloy). The Gouverneur Rescue Squad also had a festively decorated ambulance, driven in the parade by Sam Berry.

Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and a North Pole elf were then directed toward the newly renovated Gouverneur Village Park Gazebo to greet and visit with the local children. Santa’s throne was positioned in front of an ornately decorated Christmas tree, donated by the Gouverneur Lions Club, for the event. A long line formed, and eager youngsters ran into Santa’s awaiting arms. The youths told Santa Claus their Christmas wishes and were given special gifts from Santa Claus’ helpers.

Much gratitude is extended to all those who contributed any type of service to the event’s success. For more information on the Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.gouverneurchamber.net.