11/19/2015 - Sixth Annual Huntington Village Holiday Parade and Street Festival Shaping up to be Best Yet
The Sixth Annual Huntington Village Holiday Parade and Street Festival is shaping up to be the best yet, with at least 15 village merchants offering discounts tied to accessing an interactive on-line map, seven bakeries committing to taking part in the first-ever gingerbread house contest and entertainment throughout the day.
The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. November 28 at the Big H Shopping Center on New York Avenue, continuing to Main Street, where it heads west to West Neck Road. But the parade, which annually attracts 5,000 to 10,000 people to the Village, is only one of many attractions as the Town marks Small Business Saturday by day and ushers in the holiday season with the parade and street festival that follows in the evening.
The interactive map, which people can access through the Town’s website, www.huntingtonny.gov, will list participating businesses and show points of interest, parking and street closures. As of November 18, 26 businesses had signed up to be part of the map, including 15 offering various discounts, some tied specifically to the day and others good through the entire holiday season. In addition to the map, volunteers from Huntington Young Leaders will spread through the village to help guide residents and visitors. Look for the young people dressed as elves or wearing striped hats.
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the community room at Panera Bread will offer crafts for children. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Huntington Public Library will offer holiday crafts and stories in the Youth Program Room. Horse and buggy rides will be available beginning at the corner of Main and Wall Streets from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., visitors can view the gingerbread house competition entries in the window of Salon Mayan at 27 Wall Street and vote for their favorite. So far, seven bakeries have agreed to submit entries: Blondie’s Bake Shop, Butter Street Sweets, Copenhagen Bakery, Fanny Cakes, Reinwald’s Bakery, Rhapsody Cakes, and Sweetie Pies on Main. Volunteers will be handing out ballots.
Before the parade, Dancin’ Feet, Kidz Hitz and Lesley Garay of the group Autumns Falls will entertain on and in front of the reviewing stand at Main and Wall Streets, with additional music from DJ John Wrobel.
The parade will include competitions for the best floats in several categories, with judging based on how well they follow the theme of the parade, “Candy Land.” The friendly competition among fire departments is particularly fierce, because the winning department gets to choose who gets to play Santa Claus in the 2016 parade.
By popular demand, The North Shore Pops, which calls itself Long Island’s favorite concert band, will again perform immediately after the parade, playing in front of the holiday tree, which for a second consecutive year will take up residence in the (temporarily) vacant lot at 10 Wall Street. Last year, the tree was a popular picture and gathering spot throughout the holiday season.
After the tree lighting ceremony, the festival will continue on Wall Street. A disk jockey will take over to maintain the festive mood, as children pay a visit to Santa Claus, get their faces painted, play in the bounce houses or enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate, compliments of Christopher’s Restaurant. Meanwhile, parents can visit local merchants’ booths or just relax in front of the tree.
Free parking is available at the Huntington train station, with a convenient free shuttle from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Residents are also asked to participate in the Holiday Food Drive the Town of Huntington is conducting. They can drop off nonperishable food in barrels that will be placed along Wall Street. All donations will be given to the Community Food Council.