Town residents won't have to travel into New York City to get a glimpse of some favorite characters in a holiday parade.
Instead, they can just head to Huntington village on Saturday, Nov. 27, for a holiday parade up New York Avenue and Main Street, a tree lighting and a street festival on Wall Street.
Events start at 6 p.m. when the parade kicks off from near the Big H, heads north on New York Avenue into downtown, and then turns west on Main Street to end at Wall Street, which will be closed to traffic until 9 p.m. between Main and Gerard for a street festival.
After brief remarks by Supervisor Frank Petrone, a tree on a flatbed truck parked near the viewing stand along Wall Street will be lighted, while simultaneously the trees at Town Hall and in the Village Green also will be lighted.
Fire departments, marching bands, churches, Scout groups and civic groups are expected to march. Parents are invited to bring their children to meet Santa Claus and some of their favorite characters, including Snoopy, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Elmo from "Sesame Street" and Woody from "Toy Story." The Halesite fire department will have Buddy the Elf on board the actual sled, recently restored, that was used in filming the movie "Elf." Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
Wall Street will be closed to traffic from Main Street to Gerard Street until 9 p.m. for the festival, which will include performances from local groups and merchant promotions.
"Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, and this parade will help kick off the season with a bang," Petrone said. "We hope this will become an annual tradition that will put people in the right spirit for the whole season."
The parade and festival's sponsors include the town, the Huntington Village and Huntington Station Business Improvement Districts, the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, the Huntington and Huntington Manor Fire Departments and the Huntington Chiefs' Council.
Everyone attending the festival is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy and participate in the town's efforts to support the Toys for Tots program.
In case of inclement weather, the rain date for the parade is Nov. 28, starting at 6 p.m.
