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Families, friends, and, of course, fireworks are once again set for downtown Patchogue this New Year’s Eve for the annual Midnight on Main celebration. However, this year comes with a slight twist.
The Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, the event’s organizer, is combining their New Year’s Eve party with the winter street festival Winter Wonderland. The new name Midnight on Main: Winter Wonderland.
Here’s how it will work.
Starting at 6 p.m., family festivities will kick off on Main Street, featuring food, vendors, characters from “Frozen,” inflatable slides, games, and other fun photo ops — including visits from Santa Claus.
Main Street will transform into a dance party, with tunes spun by local business owner and Patchogue resident, Rob Cutrone. The celebration will culminate with Grucci Fireworks in the Blue Point Brewery parking lot.
At 9 p.m., the NYE celebrations commence as the ball drops. “It’s a Times Square type of experience locally,” said David Kennedy, executive director of the chamber.
Streets will be closed on West Main Street from North/South Ocean Avenue to River Avenue, West Avenue from Division Street to Lake Street, and Holbrook Road from the Waverly circle to the Lake Street circle. Midnight on Main will take place with Fireworks by Grucci at the intersection of West Main and West Avenue. Roads will close at 5 p.m. and reopen by 10 p.m.
“Every time we’ve done this, we hear the ‘oohs and ahhs’ from the crowd, and it always warms my heart,” Kennedy said.
Partygoers are encouraged to take full advantage of the different bars and restaurants around the village, but plan accordingly, as Kennedy mentioned that between 3,000 and 5,000 people came out last year. “We always have a great turnout,” he added.
Hats and noisemakers will be provided, and there is no admission to enter, with most activities being free to the public.
To help sponsor the event, the chamber is raffling off two “30 Days of Dining” baskets, including 30 different restaurant gift certificates. Tickets for these prizes are available online.
There will be no rain date for the event.
Top: Photo of Midnight on Main Street (file Benny Migliorino of Benny Migs Photo.)
