On Saturday December 14, 2109 Center Moriches Fire Department held its annual Holiday Parade of Lights along Montauk Highway. The Center Moriches Fire Department was joined by many of the neighboring fire departments and EMS squads as well as many community groups.

The Parade stepped off at 6:00 p.m. with the Center Moriches Fire Department leading the way. The rain earlier that day cleared up leaving spectators with mild temperatures in the 50’s. Friends and families gathered together to celebrate one of Center Moriches greatest traditions.

Thousands of people lined Montauk Hwy for as far as the eye could see waiting to see Santa as he was escorted into town on a Center Moriches Fire truck. Boy scouts, girl scouts, fire trucks and a host of characters were just some of the participants in the parade which lasted about an hour and a half.

Prior to the start of the parade our judges review over a dozen floats and award trophies to the "best" floats. During the parade the winners are announced, and trophies are presented to them as they pass by the reviewing stand.

One of the night's big winners was Helping Makes U Happy and their Frozen Christmas Wishes float.

Other awards were handed out for:

Best Cub Scouts Float - Cub Scouts Pack 1227

Best Decorated Fire / EMS Apparatus - Manorville Fire Department

Best Fire / EMS Float
1st Place – Ridge Fire Department
2nd Place – Yaphank Fire Department
3rd Place – Ease Moriches Community Ambulance

Best Community Group Float
1st Place – Center Moriches HS Drama Club
2nd Place – Our Lady Queen of Apostles
3rd Place – Center Moriches United Methodist Church

Best Overall Float Helping Makes U Happy

Special thanks go to our judges who have the difficult job of reviewing so many great floats. The Center Moriches Fire Department would like to thank all of the participants for making the Parade of Lights a spectacular community event for thousands to enjoy !

On behalf of the officers and members of the Center Moriches Fire Department we would like to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season.