While debate will eternally swirl around what day can be considered the official “start” of the Christmas season, some celebrations are large enough to convince us of one date over another.
Enter the Village of the Patchogue, whose parade and festivities held Saturday evening are sufficient arguments for the commencement of the Christmas season to land on the weekend after Thanksgiving. While some people prefer a break between holiday celebrations, Patchogue spares no expense on an annual basis to officiate the Christmas and holiday season as soon after Thanksgiving as possible.
The parade started at 6:00p.m., with pre-festival Christmas favorites played by the American Air Power Museum Band under the baton of Ed Albinski. Such standards included The Christmas Song, White Christmas, and Sleigh Ride – which featured a trumpet solo initiating the famous sound of the horse whinny. The band continued to play Christmas carols and tunes during the parade while sitting under the marquee of the Patchogue Performing Arts Center.
The Main Street show consisted of many perennial floats, displays, and groups, but all were well-anticipated and much appreciated as they always are year after year. Local troops of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Knights of Columbus, and the Rotary Club all marched with their own banners and flair. Several groups from the Stage Door School of Dance also performed elaborate numbers from within their place in the parade.
A fleet of 1930s-era jalopies cruised the street ahead of most of the parade, while the crowd was treated to the creative floats crafted by the local businesses and residents. AJ Spa and Hot Tubs of East Patchogue advertised their business on a trailer float that hauled a hot tub with two bathers enjoying the hot water. Holiday Productions of Shirley made their yearly appearance, as well as Elevate Church of Patchogue with their Mary and baby Jesus display.
Additionally, the annual display of the Hagerman Express train float made its way through the parade, dedicated to the late Rob Taraskas, a long-time member of Hagerman Fire Department.
Speaking of fire departments, several departments from the immediate and surrounding areas lent their engines for the lights displays throughout the parade. Fire departments included, but are not limited to: Hagerman, Patchogue, East Patchogue, Selden, Medford, Bellport, Lake Grove, North Patchogue, and Blue Point.
Spectators were also greeted by the Grinch, Elvis, and even Central Islip’s own QuackerJack of the Long Island Ducks.
Finally, parade attendees were greeted by the man himself, Santa Claus, as the Air Power Band played his unofficial theme, Here Comes Santa Claus.
The fake snow sprayed from the rooftops onto Main Street tied the entire night together, and the cold temperatures led some to believe – at first – that the snow was an authentic, Hallmark-TV-special-esque end to such a festive night.
“It was a great parade, all the decorations were perfect,” says Alexa, 26, East Setauket. “The people in the parade threw candy canes at us, the fake snow was really cute, we loved the people dressed up as our favorite Christmas characters, and of course, all the kids were excited to see Santa.”
With snowflakes and lights decorating the streets of Patchogue from now until Christmas, it’s safe to say one of Long Island’s most festive towns has outdone themselves yet again.
