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The Paratrooper ride attracted a steady stream of customers.

Annual Hector Fair parade draws appreciative crowd

HECTOR, July 26 -- The annual Hector Fair parade was blessed Friday with rain-free weather and a large, enthusiastic audience lining Rt. 414 as fire trucks, bands and floats made their way to the fairgrounds.

More than a dozen fire departments were represented by vehicles and, in some cases, by marchers, joining a line of participants that also included old tractors, classic cars, floats and other entertaining entrants playing bagpipes, dancing or tossing batons skyward.

The crowd was most prevalent on the western side of the roadway, but patches of onlookers dotted the eastern side as well as the parade route neared the Hector firehouse -- where bingo would later be played -- and the fairgrounds.

The number of spectators thickened near the end of the route, where judges watched from a flatbed trailer. The emcee -- the Hector Fire Department's Mike Hicks -- described the passing entrants, and along the way lauded the long firefighting career of Dave Beckhorn, a former Hector chief still active after 50 years.

Fire units represented included the home department (Valois-Logan-Hector) along with those from Ovid, Hammondsport, Mecklenburg, Enfield, Montour Falls, Interlaken, Watkins Glen, Lodi, Tyrone, Trumansburg, Wayne and Burdett. Schuyler Ambulance and South Seneca Ambulance were also on hand.

Music was provided by the Caledonian Highlanders Pipes & Drums and the Clyde Saxton Band, along with singers from Freedom Village.

Afterward, most of the spectators made their way to the fairgrounds for food, rides and games, or to visit merchandise stands, a petting zoo, or a library book sale under a tent on the north end of the grounds.

The fair, which opened Thursday night, was set to conclude Saturday night after an afternoon and evening of more fun, along with classic cars on display.

Photos in text:

Top: An Interlaken Fire Department 1834 hand pumper.

Bottom: One of many people snapping photos of the passing parade.

Left: Smokey the Bear and friends were part of the parade.
Right: Montour Falls Fire Chief Jeff Confer was in the line of march.

Piglets were a popular part of the fair's petting zoo.

A spectator, front left, joined in some Zumba dancing with parade participants.

Left: One of the parade's fire department vehicles.
Right: A member of the Caledonian Highlanders.

A popular musical marching unit.

Revolutionary War soldiers were also represented.

The Rasta Ranch Vineyards float was a hit.

A singer aboard the Freedom Village float.

Left: Activity at the fair's Fun Slide, always a popular stop.
Right: Members of the Tyrone Fire Department march in the parade.

An LPG protester, one of several marching in the parade.

Left: Aboard the Two Goats Brewing float. Right: A parade participant on wheels.