The annual Mercer County Firemen’s Association Fire Prevention Parade will have added meaning in Hamilton this year.
The Oct. 4 parade will double as a celebration of White Horse Fire Company’s 100th anniversary. Starting at 1 p.m. in the Sunnybrae section of Yardville, the parade will feature fire equipment, marchers and bands from Mercer County and beyond. Fire companies will attend from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. The U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Air Force Reserve, a 9/11 Memorial tractor trailer and the Pink Heals breast cancer awareness fire truck will also make appearances.
The parade starts at the intersection of Elton Avenue and Kay Road, and continues down Elton until the intersection with Sunnybrae Boulevard. Spectators can view the parade from anywhere along the route, but White Horse Fire anniversary chairman Woody Emmons said the reviewing stage on the corner of Quay Court may be the best place to watch. There, an announcer will give information about units in the parade. It is also where judges review participants for some of the 60 awards to be handed out, including best overall fire company and best Mercer fire company in the parade.
After the parade, refreshments will be served at Switlik Park, off of South Broad Street in Yardville.
Every year, the county Fire Prevention Parade takes place on the first Saturday in October as a way to kick of National Fire Prevention Week. The location rotates, with one of the county fire companies hosting the parade. This year will be the fourth time White Horse Fire Company has hosted the parade, the last being in 2004.
For more information about the parade or White Horse Fire Company, go online to whvfc.org.
