Greater Patchogue coverage is funded in part by New Village at Patchogue, open-concept rental residences with sleek contemporary design. Click here for a tour.
The Midnight on Main St. street gathering that was scheduled for Friday, New Year’s Eve, in Patchogue has been cancelled, organizers announced Tuesday.
“Obviously, this decision is because of the continued rise of COVID and the Omicron variant,” said David Kennedy, the executive director of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, organizers of the event.
“Specifically, we recognize that to host an event of this size under current circumstances, we would need to ensure all attending were masked and vaccinated, something our chamber would have difficulty doing. Further, many of the local agencies we depend on to assist us have communicated they have severe staffing shortages due to COVID that would leave our event without the personnel we would need to ensure the event is safe.”
So that glowing LED-lit New Year’s Eve ball will remain in storage another year.
“We apologize to anyone disappointed in our decision,” Kennedy further stated. “I can attest that the Village of Patchogue, Suffolk Police, Patchogue Fire Department, Patchogue Ambulance Company, Village Public Safety, Village Department of Public works and Blue Point Brewery all did everything possible to try and make this event happen. The Chamber is sincerely grateful for their assistance despite the obstacles … “
He also vowed that the event will return to Main Street next year.
Midnight on Main St. file photo 2017
