Community Corner

Parade Part of Jamboree Again

Fireworks set for Friday night, event continues tonight.

For the first time in three years, a firefighters' parade will once again be part of the Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department Inc.'s annual jamboree. 

The parade will take place this Saturday, the last day of the 46th annual event, and organizers hope it gains plenty of steam each year leading to the 50th celebration.

"It's something we're trying to make a tradition," said Tom Gotaski, fire engineer and chairman of the board for the Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., the non-profit association that sponsors the event. 

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To do that, support from the town is critical, Gotaski said. He urges residents young and old to come out and watch as numerous departments from across the state, including many from the Farmington Valley, bring vintage and modern firefighting apparatus as well as color guards. 

"We need the support of the people too," he said. 

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The marshaled parade will include 19 trophies for participating departments, including best overall department.  

Tom's son and firefighter Johnathan Gotaski and Fire Lt. Matt Bilts are co-chairing the parade committee. A parade was last part of the event in 2009, they said.

Such parades are becoming scarce, they said. One problem is many towns are like Canton in that firefighters are volunteers. As towns struggle to maintain a good corps of volunteers, they often lack the resources to send a contingent out of town for a parade and still adequately cover the town. 

The parade will take place Saturday, May 19. It begins at 6 p.m. at Canton High School on Simonds Ave to Route 179, to Rte 202, to the Jamboree Field on Powder Mill Road. Portions of those roads will be closed from 6 p.m. until about 7 p.m. for the parade, town officials said. 

The jamboree itself continues tonight through Saturday night from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. For $20, participants can enjoy unlimited rides from 6 to 10 p.m. 

Fireworks take place on Friday night. Parking is off of Powder Mill Road on the jamboree field. Parking is free except for a $5 charge per vehicle Friday night. 


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