Fourth of July parade and carnival this weekend

AMENIA — The Amenia Fire Company will hold its 82nd annual carnival Wednesday through Saturday, July 2 to 5, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

The fairgrounds are on Mechanic Street, next to Town Hall, and will include a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, merry-go-round, children’s rides and adult games of chance and bingo.

The fire company’s annual parade will be Friday, July 4, at 7 p.m. and will include fire departments from throughout the area as well as floats and marching bands.

This year, the parade route has changed: The parade will begin at Beekman Park, go down through Route 44 to the traffic light, straight through the traffic light and down toward Mechanic Street.

Company member Andy Murphy said that despite some members of the public asking the company to switch back to the old route, which traveled north up Route 22 before taking a right at the traffic light onto Route 343 and heading over to Mechanic Street, this year’s route will remain unchanged.

"It’s too late to change the route," Murphy said. "Maybe next year we will change it. We just hope for nice weather right now and we hope there are no thunderstorms like there have been during the last three weeks. I hope everyone can come out, although I know the economy is tight. But we rely on the carnival and the parade to buy equipment and it helps us pay the bills. Hopefully people will come out to support us the best they can."

Last year, 23 fire departments, eight color guards, seven marching bands and several area groups marched in the parade. Fire and police companies from Amenia, Wassaic, Millerton and Sharon and Falls Village, Conn., took part in the event, showing off their fire engines and various aparatus, including pumpers and several antique engines.

Fireworks will be held at the carnival on Saturday, July 5, at 10 p.m.