​Golden's Bridge FD Rolls Out Santa Fire Truck Parade

GOLDENS BRIDGE, NY — Children should not worry. Santa Claus is coming to town. But instead of a sleigh guided by Rudolph and his bright red nose, the jolly old elf will be navigating the roads of the Lewisboro hamlet of Goldens Bridge in shiny red fire trucks with screeching sirens and flashing lights as he leads the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department “Santa Fire Truck Parade” for children in the community.

The parade kicks off at noon Sunday.

Santa will greet children and toss candy canes from the open window of a fire engine talking to them through a public address system, according to a spokesman.

Like most events this year, due to the pandemic, the Golden’s Fire Department was forced to cancel its annual children’s holiday party at the firehouse, which usually draws more than 220 youngsters and their families. Besides the food, crafts and free raffle prizes, the highlight of the annual party is always a visit and photo with Santa.

With so many community events being canceled, the fire department's Santa parade is even more important to children and their families during this holiday season, according to department officials.

“The children of our community have had their share of disappointment this year — and although we are unable to host the holiday party because of restrictions on public gatherings, this isn’t going to be a year without Santa Claus,” said Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief Al Melillo.

“We want to create a good memory of 2020," he said. "We want children to remember the day that the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department delivered Santa in a parade of fire trucks with flashing lights and screaming sirens.”

The free raffle drawing that usually takes place at the children’s holiday party will proceed this year, but it will be conducted virtually. Families who live in the Golden’s Bridge Fire District should text message GBFD community representative Steve Mangione at 914-403-4072 with the following information by midnight Dec. 28: name of one parent, address and names/ages of children in the household that are 12 and under. You will receive a reply text with a free raffle ticket number for each child 12 and under. A dozen raffle winners will be contacted after the new year.

The Santa parade route on Sunday will be as follows (all times approximate):

• Noon – Rt. 138 westbound from the firehouse and the Colony; trucks will enter the Colony on Main St., turn onto Hall St., and exit through Pond St.; residents who don’t live on these roads should go to the lake or barn areas, and everyone must wear masks and social distance
• 12:15 p.m. – Wild Oaks; anyone living on cul-de-sacs or limited-access roads should go to their main road or at the circle, and stay socially distant and wear masks at all times
• 12:30 p.m. – Rt. 22 northbound, Nash Rd., and Valeria Circle
• 12:40 p.m. – Rt. 22 southbound from Valeria Circle, North County Shopping Center, and Old Golden’s Bridge
• 12:55 p.m. – Rt. 22 southbound (south of shopping center), and Todd Rd. between Rt. 22 and Lake Katonah
• 1:10 p.m. – Lake Katonah; residents on narrow, limited-access roads should go to intersections of main roads, while social distancing and wearing masks at all times
• 1:25 p.m. – Todd Rd. between Lake Katonah and Rt. 121; residents on side roads off Todd Rd. should go to the intersection of their road and Todd Rd., and everyone must wear masks and social distance
• 1:40 p.m. – Arbor Hills
• 1:55 p.m. – Indian Hill
• 2:10 p.m. – residents on Rt. 138, including all side roads between Rt. 121 and Increase Miller Road – and any other roads with limited access anywhere in the hamlet – should go to the Increase Miller Elementary School complex, and line the road leading into and through the school property while maintaining appropriate social distance and wearing a mask
• 2:25 p.m. – Brady Farm and Falcon Ridge

“Watch for the lights and listen for the sirens. When you hear Santa’s ‘ho, ho, ho,’ you’ll know he’s getting close,” Melillo said.