Thursday is Thanksgiving Day but it’s just the start of the holiday season in Huntington.
Friday night will light up the harbor at 6 p.m. with the launch of the Huntington Lighthouse Parade of Lights.
Prizes will be awarded in 10 categories: Best in Show, Best Sailboat, Best Powerboat, Best Corporate Boat, Best Club Boat, Most Creative, Most Elegant, Most Outrageous, Fleets Favorite, and Best Music & Animation. $50 boat registration fee.
On Saturday, numerous events will be underway around Huntington. Small Business Saturday is designed to encourage people to shop locally, and was founded by American Express in 2010.
From 1-3:30 p.m., members of the South Huntington school community are invited to join in the district’s winter wonderland at the James Kaden Administrative Offices at 60 Weston Street, Huntington Station.
Residents are welcome to drop by any time between 1 and 3:30 PM so preschool and elementary-age children can enjoy holiday songs, Dreidel games, sweet treats, crafts, and photos with Santa, a Menorah, or winter scene.
A professional photographer will be on hand for family holiday card photos.
There is no registration cost associated with the program,.
Later in the day, events will be in full swing.
The town will provide free parking in metered spots across Huntington Village, as well as free parking and shuttle at the Huntington LIRR Train Station. Qwik Ride will provide a free shuttle throughout the village.
ACTIVITY & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
CHILDREN’S SCAVENGER HUNT
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
In front of Ben & Jerry’s
CHILDREN’S CRAFTS
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Huntington Public Library and Panera Bread
FACE PAINTING AND COSTUME CHARACTERS
1:00 PM to Close
Wall Street Festival
INFLATABLES
1:00 PM to Close
Wall Street Bounce House and Slide
ENTERTAINMENT THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE
2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Michael Meehan and Friends, Corner of Clinton and Gerard
Anthony Raffa and Friends, Corner of New York Avenue and Main Street
The Huntington School of Rock, Corner of New York Avenue and Elm
GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Vote for your Favorite Gingerbread House
All are on display in the windows of the Paramount Theater, New York Avenue
ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE & CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
5:30 PM
Walt Whitman High School Varsity Dance Team, Red Hot Mamas, Dancin’ Feet, Floats, Music, Costume Characters and more
Huntington Chamber Choir
Hot Chocolate, Chestnuts, Popcorn, Cotton Candy and more!
“This year, Huntington’s Holiday Parade and Annual Tree Lighting returns to the Saturday evening on Thanksgiving Weekend,” stated Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, who serves as co-Grand Marshal for the 2018 Holiday Parade with Peter Mazzeo, singer, songwriter and founding member of the New York Bee Gees. “Join us for the festivities and shop our local merchants on Small Business Saturday.”
4th Annual Gingerbread House Competition
The 2018 Winter Wonderland Holiday Parade and Festival will feature the 4th Annual Gingerbread House Competition. Amateur bakers ages 12 and up can enter the Gingerbread House Competition. Finalist entries will be on display in the windows of The Paramount for public voting on Saturday, November 24. After the festival, all of the finalists will be on display in the lobby of Town Hall throughout December and January.
9th Annual Winter Wonderland 2018 Huntington Holiday Parade
The 9th Annual “Winter Wonderland” 2018 Huntington Holiday Parade, which draws between 5,000 and 10,000 people to downtown Huntington Village, will kick off at 5:30 PM from the Big H Shopping Center on New York Avenue and will proceed north to Main Street and then west on Main Street to West Neck Road.
Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci and singer, songwriter and founding member of the New York Bee Gees, Peter Mazzeo will serve as co-Grand Marshals for the parade, which kicks off with musical performances on and in front of the reviewing stand.
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, “Winter Wonderland.” The competition among fire departments is particularly fierce, because the winning department gets to choose who will play Santa Claus in the 2019 parade. Businesses and organizations are also encouraged to participate.
The Town will host the Interactive Parade Map created by Town GIS staff for the third year. Participating businesses will be listed on the Parade Map, which can be accessed on any smart phone, computer, laptop, tablet, or other device.
Shoppers will browse the interactive Holiday Parade Map, full of giveaways and special offers related to Small Business Saturday and the Holiday Parade. The Interactive Parade Map also allows the user to see the location of all the events, entertainment, parking, transportation information and more. At the end of the holiday season the Parade Map becomes the Business Map. The business sponsors that take part in the Parade Map as a sponsor remain on the Business Map from 2018 to 2019.
Tree Lighting Ceremony & Wall Street Festival
Wall Street is closed for a street festival filled with games, food and music as everyone awaits the lighting of the tree and a chance for the children to meet Santa.
Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Tree Lighting Ceremony, performances include those by the America’s Got Talent finalist, the Huntington Chamber Choir and others.
After the tree lighting ceremony, the festival will continue on Wall Street. A DJ will take over to maintain the festive mood, as children pay a visit to Santa Claus, have their faces painted, play in the bounce houses, and enjoy free hot chocolate, popcorn, cotton candy, and roasted chestnuts. Musicians and street performers will play throughout the village as families shop, play games and participate in activities.
Starting at 1:00 PM, the Huntington Public Library and Panera Bread will host children’s holiday crafts and the 3rd Annual Scavenger Hunt for children and parents will kick off in front of Ben and Jerry’s on Main Street.
