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MONTROSE, N.Y. The first night of the Cortlandt Engine Company Bazaar was heralded in by delighted screams of school-aged children on their first thrilling midway ride of the summer.
The causal affair is as much marked by the cool smell of fresh rain on the fire department's patch of lush grass, as it is by the smell of French fries hitting hot oil and pizza ovens heating up homemade slices.
"It's a tradition, you always know the Montrose bazaar is coming up," said Croton resident Meg Greiner. "It always brings you back." She stood by the Space Sled as her 9-year-old son whirled in a circle in its face-first carts for the fifth time.
Many attendees could not remember how long the carnival has been going on, but a group of Montrose Fire Department firefighters nodded in agreement that the fair has been ongoing for 93 years.
Arguably one of the biggest open fields in the hamlet of Montrose, the fair is stuffed with fantastically named rides like "Go Gator," "Circus Town" and "Sea Ray," as well as the pragmatically named "Haunted House."
Gamers can toss, shoot or raffle their way to any number of huge pink gorillas or tiny blue teddy bears, and the gastronomically inclined can delight in classic carnival food like zeppoles and little neck steamers.
The carnival is the largest annual fundraiser for the firehouse, raising several thousand dollars each year. Many firefighters devote hours of personal time to the carnival at least one firefighter took the entire week off from work to prep food for the central kitchen booth.
"It's one of the biggest fundraisers of the year and it's also one of the most rewarding," said 30-year lifer Mike Stewart.
Many born-and-raised residents could point to multiple generations of their families serving at or attending the carnival. Two generations of Lang women served at the Lady's Auxiliary kitchen Wednesday evening. President of the Lady's Auxiliary, Patty Lang, worked next to her daughter as she described how her mother created the pizza tradition for the auxiliary.
"It's that people can see what you do for the firemen," said Lang.
"When you get the people applauding you in the street, that's when you know it's your hometown," said 12-year Montrose firefighter Pat Wisker, 28, about the parade. The parade begins at the intersection of Bannon Avenue and Kings Ferry Road at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
The bazaar will be open through Saturday, June 9 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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