SOUTHWICK — Cows, goats, sheep, ox and just about any other farm animal one might think of, and even a few dogs and cats, will be hoofing it down College Highway on Oct. 19 during the Southwick Civic Fund’s sixth annual Farm Parade fundraiser for the town’s Polverari-Southwick Animal Shelter.
There will be plenty of tractors of all sizes, too.
“It’s the only fun parade left in town,” said Joseph Deedy, the president of the nonprofit Civic Fund, which has organized the parade for the past five years. The parade typically lasts for at least an hour.
The idea for the fundraising parade came from Bob Polverari, who with his wife, donated the completed shelter to the town in 2013, Deedy said. Deedy said he and Polverari were talking about ways to raise money to cover the shelter’s annual expenses and that Polverari suggested a parade — after attending one in another town — that highlighted the agricultural heritage of the town, including farming equipment and farm animals.
With that, Deedy’s Civic Fund sprang into action, organizing the first parade in 2018. It took a while to catch on, but it’s grown every year since.
“The first year was kind of sad,” Deedy said.
For this year’s event, Deedy said he expects to have between 75 and 100 farm animals or more, depending on the weather, to take the stroll along College Highway. The parade begins at 2 p.m. from the Southwick Florist, where farm animals will line up, and Interstate Building Supply, for tractors and farm equipment. After a procession down Routes 10 and 202, it ends at Town Hall.
Those who want to participate in the parade with their pets should line up in front of Ryan’s Professional Center at 627 College Hwy. Anyone with pets, farm animals or farm equipment is welcome to register to participate in the parade and Deedy said similar animals will be grouped together.
While there isn’t a deadline for registering for the parade, Deedy asks those who are planning to attend to register as soon as possible.
“It’s great to know ahead of time how many entries to expect,” he said.
Participants pay a fee of $20, all of which goes to aid the Polverari-Southwick Animal Shelter. Applications are available at www.southwickcivicfund.org/farm-parade.
The parade will also feature the Powder Mill School marching band.
After the parade, free hot dogs will be provided by the town’s Police and Fire associations at Town Hall, he said. He also invited the those attending the parade to visit Town Hall.
“Make sure you swing by the back of Town Hall after the parade to meet the members of our Police and Fire departments,” Deedy said.
He also wanted to remind those who want to participate in the parade that there will be no political themes or slogans allowed.
“We make a significant effort to remain politically neutral in our family events, and ask that also of our participants,” Deedy said.
