MONTICELLO — Monticello Fire Department’s Alan Kesten spoke Wednesday night of the upcoming Volunteer Fireman’s Parade occurring September 6 next fall. He came searching for Department of Transportation (DOT) permits for shutting down Broadway for the event.

This upcoming year will be a special one for the Monticello Fire Department as they will be celebrating their 150 year anniversary.

Last year, the Monticello Fire Department took on the project for being the host of the 2025 Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Parade.

“Traditionally, the parade goes to whoever the President of the Association is,” explained Kestenn. “The Vice President of the Association for next year happens to be Al Dumas.”

When offering to take on the task of hosting the Parade, the County Association [for Voluteer Firefighters]  gave Kesten and his team the green light.

For this upcoming Parade, Kesten intends to make this a more “family-oriented” day in addition to just the Fireman’s Parade.

“There’s nothing better here than marching down Broadway in your hometown in full uniform for a Fireman’s Parade” declared Kesten.

The lineup for the Parade will start off in the area surrounding the Government Center [North Street and Cottage Street] depending on how many companies participate in the Parade. Kesten said his team anticipates a good turnout.

According to Kesten, the planned route will be as follows:

The parade will travel down Liberty Street

It will then turn and go left on Broadway

Will “probably” go down the south lane

It will go all the way down the hill to the firehouse and turn right on Richardson Avenue

Will end at the firehouse

Arrangements have also been made with the Monticello School District to use their Somerville Athletic Field. This will be filled with amenities such as amusements and games, as well as slides and bounce houses.

“We want firefighters to bring their kids, we want the public to come out … 

everybody from Monticello [as well]  come out and have a great time,” stated Kesten.

In terms of parking Kesten was “sure” people will use the Aldi’s parking lot, as well as anywhere they can find a place. He also mentioned the lots on upper Broadway and walk down.

“We intend to have shuttle buses going around – our intention is to have them run 10 to 11 in the morning to 10 or 11 at night,” stated Kesten.

The event will end with fireworks at dusk around 9:00 p.m. as per Kesten’s estimate. Trophies and live music were also planned to be at the Monticello Firehouse.

DOT Agreement 

for Bagel Fest.

Kesten was also present in searching for a resolution in support of the Bagel Festival so the DOT process could begin.

Kesten noted that this year the plans are “almost identical” to last year’s event.

He stated that he is in talks with Josh Dietchman who did the murals for Wurtsboro’s Fair this past summer to doing something similar on the Courthouse lawn.

“Any business that wants to participate will gladly be able to,” explained Kesten. “The more the merrier!”

Hutchins questioned that regarding the public parking, if charging were to happen on some of their public parking spaces.

“If you got any other festival in any other town, you have to pay to park if you don’t park on the side streets,” stated Hutchins.

Kesten responded that it is, from his personal perspective, bad for business. He understood the thought that it would be good for the Village and if that’s what the Board wanted, it could be figured out.

He alluded to one of the lots [behind the church] being possibly utilized for vendor parking due to its one-way-in and one-way-out nature.

CAPTION:

2000: Alan Kesten of the Monticello Fire Department wants the Volunteer Fireman’s Parade to be more family-focused for the 2025 event.