Town of Huntington, NY - News Details
11/21/2014 - North Shore Pops to Headline Huntington Village Holiday Parade and Festival
Huntington – The North Shore Pops, which calls itself Long Island’s favorite concert band, will headline the entertainment at the Fifth Annual Holiday Parade and Street Festival in Huntington Village November 29, as part of a festive day of entertainment and activities that will usher in the holiday season in a spectacular way.
The almost 50-piece band, which has been entertaining Long Island music lovers for nearly 30 years, will bring its unique repertoire of jazz, light classical, show tunes, rock and patriotic music to the street festival, playing in front of the 26-foot holiday tree, which will take up residence in the (temporarily) vacant lot at 10 Wall Street for the holiday season. The Pops will play immediately after the parade, be part of the tree lighting ceremony and continue afterward, until singer Brandon LaCarrubba, who wowed the crowd with his performance at last year’s parade, takes over. When Brandon has finished his set, a disk jockey will take over to maintain the festive mood, as children pay a visit to Santa Claus, get their faces painted, play at the video game trailer or in the bounce house 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.
Before the parade, which kicks off at 7 p.m., local youth talent will be on display in front of the reviewing stand with performances by Dancin’ Feet and Kids Hitz; singers from Walt Whitman High School will be caroling through the village throughout the day (another group, from Huntington High School, will be part of the tree lighting ceremony). Also before the parade, the Huntington Village business Improvement District is offering free horse and buggy rides through the Village and merchants will be taking part in a day-long sidewalk sale.
“There is literally something for everybody throughout the day,” Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said. “Come early, stay late, bring the whole family and have fun.”
The centerpiece of the day, of course, is Long Island’s biggest electric light holiday parade, which last year drew more than 10,000 people to Huntington Village.
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, “ ‘Tis the Season Across America.” Competitors are required to pick a state and create a float that represents the holiday in that state.
The friendly competition among fire departments is particularly fierce, because the winning department gets to choose who gets to play Santa Claus in the 2015 parade.
Free parking is available at the Huntington train station, with a convenient free shuttle from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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 Manor and Huntington Fire Departments and the Huntington Fire Chiefs’ Council. Special thanks go to Rubies Costume Corp., the Engel Burman Group, VanBladel Idle Acre Tree Farm, R&R Lighting and Mary Smith, who owns 10 Wall Street and who has created a venue for people to enjoy the tree throughout the entire holiday season.