The Catskill Chronicle

Photos by Carol Montana

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY (June 1, 2013) – The 10^th Annual Trout Parade, Sullivan County’s own version of Mardi Gras, will be held on Saturday, June 8 in  Livingston Manor, rain or shine. Produced by the Catskill Art Society in partnership with the Livingston Manor Chamber of Commerce, the Trout Parade is also supported by businesses and individuals from around the community. Proceeds will benefit the Arts and Music Programs at the Livingston Manor Central School and the nonprofit Catskill Art Society.

Attendees can expect to find lots of fishy fun along Main Street from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including an arts-and-crafts fair, children’s activities, and specialty foods from local vendors.

Entertainment will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Main Street, including puppet performances by Ramona Jan, face painting by Miss Sunshine the Clown, and stilt walking by Brett Keyser and Tannis Kowalchuk of the NaCl Theatre.

The parade will step-off promptly at 1:00 p.m., led by the 2013 Grand Marshall Jenny Lytton. She will be followed by a wide variety of antique and classic cars, music, entertainment, and floats representing local businesses, organizations and performance groups from this area and beyond, including the magnificent puppets of Catskill Puppet Theater and Bud Wertheim’s famous Giant Brook Trout. Sullivan County citizens and benefactors such as Jeff Bank, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center, and the Livingston Manor Rotary will march and enter floats, while cultural organizations and shows like NaCl Theatre’s “The Weather Project” will turn heads with spectacular costumes and showmanship.

A variety of music for all tastes will get audiences to “Boogie Down,” from Paprika, the acclaimed all-female international dance music band; the Hungry March Band, a longtime favorite marching brass ensemble with a scrappy soul; and Taste Da’ Thumbs Symphony, a rocking band featuring local favorites with a set of progressive rock and heavy funk.

All during the festivities, Wilkes and Bernard Photography will provide instant portraits at the CAS Arts Center, located at 48 Main Street. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Catskill Art Society and support its exhibits, classes, and cultural programming. Professional photographs will be taken and prints made on the spot.

This year’s Trout Parade is dedicated to the memory of Barry Foster, whose indomitable spirit and sense of humor was a touchstone to all who knew him in the Livingston Manor community. His role as emcee for most of the event’s history will be commemorated with this year’s milestone event as it promotes the joy and hometown pride that he so cherished.

For more information and details on how to become a sponsor or to participate in the Trout Parade, contact the Catskill Art Society at 845-436-4227, e-mail info@catskillartsociety.org, or visit www.troutparade.com.