'Riverhead Holiday Extravaganza' Brings Town Together To Present Day Of Festivities

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RIVERHEAD, NY — Downtown Riverhead will be filled with holly, jolly fun Saturday, with a host of holiday activities set to delight young and old.

The Riverhead Lions Club is celebrating 78 years of its cherished Christmas Parade tradition. "Join the Lions Club for this year's Parade and Holiday Extravaganza," organizers said. "It's a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, enjoy festive activities and make lasting memories."

Lineup for the parade begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Aquarium parking lot; the parade begins at 4:30 p.m. on Ostrander Avenue, heading to Griffing Avenue. Each group in the parade will be introduced by Riverhead Town Clerk Jim Wooten outside the The Suffolk on E. Main Street.

This year, the "Riverhead Holiday Extravaganza" takes place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Riverhead Town Hall campus, from West 2nd Street to Railroad Avenue.

Festivities include photos with Santa, free hot chocolate provided by the Moose Lodge, a Library SLED Mobile, arts and entertainment, the East End Merry Market, presented by East End Arts, with artists, makers and local vendors, as well as local breweries and food. There will also be a Leos' fundraiser, with chocolate pretzels for $2; the chocolate was provided by North Fork Chocolate.

The event also includes a community bonfire, the Parade of Lights at 4:30 p.m. — which includes a visit from Santa at the end of the parade — the grand tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall on 2nd Street, dance performances, and holiday movies at The Suffolk.

According to Lisa Pickersgill, president of the Riverhead Lions Club, this year's event brings a new dimension of exciting activities to downtown. "We would like to introduce our town's Holiday Extravaganza, which is truly inclusive of many of the town's entities," she said.

A Goat on a Boat puppet show, sponsored by the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, takes place at 3 p.m.

The event is filled with people who represent the heart and soul of Riverhead, Pickersgill said: The hot cocoa will be served by volunteers, including the Peconic Bay Power Squadron; the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department will helm the bonfire; and the Riverhead Police Department will supervise festivities, she said. The Polish Town Civic Association will also take part in the event, and the Riverhead Lions Club's newly formed Leos grop will be helping at the Santa House.

WLNG will take the stage, as will a lineup including many local groups including East End Disability Associates, Inc., and R.I.S.E. Family Services.

"The Riverhead Lions Parade is a collaboration with the Town of Riverhead," Pickersgill said, adding that the event will feature the Merry Market, hosted by East End Arts, as well as "wonderful local food and drinks."

She added: "This has truly been an amazing collaborative event, in part with the Riverhead Business Improvement District and also the Parks and Recs Department building and grounds, as well as Town Hall. We wish everyone a happy holiday and a safe holiday," she said. "Please come and see Santa as he arrives at the end of the parade at Town Hall into his home."

With so many coming together to make the festive event happen, Pickersgill said:""We are moved by something Helen Keller once said, '"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.'"