Thanksgiving Week Events

The holiday season kickoff week offers lots of choices in Huntington, from a community worship service celebrating the spirit of fellowship and sharing to a free holiday lunch, a morning run, a parade, Santa and street festival, to lighted boats sailing the harbor.

Sunday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m. – Join the community in celebrating the annual ecumenical Thanksgiving service, this year hosted by the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, Centerport. Dr. Luonne Rouse, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Huntington-Cold Spring Harbor, will deliver the message. There will be a collection of canned food for the Huntington Food Council.

Thursday, Nov. 25, 8:30 a.m. – Work off the pumpkin pie before you indulge with the Thanksgiving Day Run, rain or shine, sponsored by the Townwide Fund of Huntington. A 1K Fun Run starts at 8:30 a.m. and a 4-mile race starts at 9 a.m. Start/finish at the American Legion Hall in Halesite on Mill Dam Road. Walk-in registrations accepted the day of the race. Check in starts at 7 a.m on race day; runners can do a pre-race check in Tuesday and Wednesday at the , 355 New York Ave.

Thursday, Nov. 25, noon to 2 p.m. – Thanksgiving dinner will be served in the cafeteria at St. Hugh of Lincoln Roman Catholic Church, 21 E. Ninth St., Huntington Station. The free dinner is open to all.

Friday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m. – Parade of Lights around Huntington Harbor, with the judging stand located at on New York Avenue. Boats will assemble at 5:15 p.m. between Wyncote Yacht Club and Huntington Yacht Club and motor through the harbor decked out in holiday style. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and is expected to take about 40 minutes, depending upon how many boats participate.

Saturday, Nov. 27, 6 p.m. – Holiday parade up Rt. 110 from near the Big H to Main Street, ending at the judging stand on Wall Street, where a tree will be lighted at the same time lights are turned on for trees in front of and on the Village Green. Santa Claus and characters such as Snoopy, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Elmo from "Sesame Street" and Woody from "Toy Story" will be on hand, and Buddy the Elf will be on board the recently restored sled 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.

Monday, Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m. – The restaurant on New York Avenue will host a tree lighting ceremony featuring a 30-foot balsam fir strung with 25,000 white lights, in what the restaurant hopes will become an annual affair. There also will be hot chocolate and cookies and caroling with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kevin Lawlor, Huntington Hospital's president and chief executive officer, will light the tree, along with Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone.