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.
Patchogue Village is known for its cultural heritage and festivals — such as the Italian Feast of Saint Liberata and the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade — and now the Hispanic community is getting its very own parade.
Village Trustee Lizbeth Carrillo confirmed to greaterpatchogue.com that the inaugural Hispanic Day Parade is set to be held on Oct. 2 at noon along Patchogue’s Main Street.
While the Patchogue community has celebrated its Hispanic roots with its annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration, a parade has been a long time coming, said Carrillo.
“My goal with this is to be inclusive, not just for the Hispanic community but every community,” said Carrillo, who is the first-ever Hispanic woman on the Patchogue Village Board. “For people to know what the Hispanic community brings and who we are…it’s about uniting, educating, and growing as a community, as a whole.”
Carrillo said the Hispanic community is made up of “beautiful dances, beautiful colors, and delicious food” and these elements will be spotlighted at the first-ever Hispanic Day Parade.
She emphasized the importance of making the parade bilingual as well.
The parade route begins at the corner of Route 112 and Main Street, marchers will then proceed through the downtown and end at Railroad Avenue.
Carrillo said organizing this parade could not have been possible without the support from her fellow trustees, the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri, and others who all have been working on the event for the past couple of months.
“We’re really excited about it, it’s just another way for us to really celebrate our cultural diversity and the very vital Hispanic community that we have here in Patchogue,” said David Kennedy, executive director of the chamber. “It’s certainly something that is well-deserved.”
Carrillo said they are currently looking for Hispanic business owners in the village who would like to participate in the parade.
The village trustee added that the event is also in need of sponsors. Those who are interested can email Carrillo at lcarrillo@patchoguevillage.org.
Check back with greaterpatchogue.com to learn more details on the parade as it gets closer.
Top: Dancers from The Cuban at Patchogue’s Alive After Five festival this summer. (Credit: Nick Grasso)
