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Several hundred people endured the 90 degree weather to enjoy the 32nd Smithtown Festival Day.
Families, friends and dogs walked up and down Smithtown’s Main Street, where craftspeople, chefs and servicemembers set up their trucks and tents for the eight-hour celebration of the community.
The festival was cancelled last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who attended Sunday’s festivities, life appeared back to normal and a more exciting summer than last had begun.
“It’s great to see this many people around,” John Foglio, who recently moved into Smithtown said. Foglio, who attended with his wife and three grandchildren, said he wanted “to see what the town’s about.” “It’s nice seeing people come out, without masks, and get along.”
There were food trucks on scene serving up Ralph’s Italian Ices, pretzels, gyros and more. People trying to beat the heat formed the long lines at stands serving refreshing pina coladas and fresh squeezed lemonade.
Locals selling homemade signs and trinkets set up shop as well. While there was plenty of foot traffic on Main Street, some of the craftspeople said they were underwhelmed with their sales for the day.
“It’s slow today,” said Evelyn D’Achille, under her “Wines Gone What Now” tent. “It’s a beach day.”
However, her and her husband still sold some of her repurposed corks turned into figurines and decorative wind chimes.
“I think people are just too hot, Allison Balmer, selling bandanas for pets and painted wooden signs for their owners’ homes, said. “They are zombie-walking, looking for a drink.”
From Route 111 to New York Avenue, music filled the air. A guitarist and a keyboard player from Smithtown High School East’s Tri-M Music Honor Society sang between tents in the heart of the festivities, while 17-year-old Gabriella Fugon, who will play the titular character in the Smithtown Center for Performing Arts’ summer production of Disney’s Moana Jr, sang under the center’s marquee.
After the performers played their final numbers, a dozen people from Gold’s Gym danced in the street while music from a DJ’s speakers pervaded the block.
Scroll down to see pictures from the day. Click all the boxes to see them all.
