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What to Know: The details of the 2021 Yaphank Christmas parade and craft fair

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The Yaphank community and its surrounding neighborhoods are coming together this weekend to spread some holiday cheer.

The Yaphank Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is hosting its annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. 

“One of the ladies in the auxiliary had suggested this 13 years ago and truthfully I said ‘That’s never going to work,’” joked Barbara Hamilton, president of the Ladies Auxiliary. “And I was 100 percent wrong.” 

Since then, Hamilton has worked with her fellow co-chairs — her daughter, Sarah Donlon, and Veronica Connell -— to put on a stellar parade to kick off the holiday season. 

The parade route is about a mile long down Main Street from Yaphank Avenue to the Yaphank Fire Department near Yaphank Middle Island Road.  

Road closures begin at 3 p.m. for all streets surrounding the firehouse, including Charles Street and Everett Drive. 

Floats start lining up from Yaphank Cemetery towards Yaphank Avenue facing west. 

Onlookers can expect to see a variety of floats, including a Paw Patrol one this year, Hamilton said.

18-wheeler trucks, community member vehicles, fire trucks, and more will be decked out in festive décor for the event.

The Longwood High School marching band is also set to make its annual appearance in the parade, Hamilton says. 

Judges will hand out various awards, like Best Float, Best Decorated Fire Truck, and Most Spirited Group. 

“Everybody tries to get in on the action,” she said. 

Following the parade is the tree lighting at the gazebo. 

Families can take photos with Santa and there will be a big, red mailbox so kids can send their letters to the North Pole. 

All spectators are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item, as organizers are collecting donations to benefit St. Andrew’s Church food pantry. 

A craft fair is also happening at 3 p.m. and there will be around 20 vendors, Hamilton confirmed.

From 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. the intersections of River Road and Moriches Middle Island Road, Long Island Avenue and Yaphank Avenue, and Muellers Lane and Main Street will be closed. 

“We have a really good turnout, it’s more than we could have ever imagined truthfully,” said Hamilton. 

For more information, visit the Yaphank Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary Christmas Parade Facebook page

Continue to follow greatermoriches.com for updates on this event. 

Top: Yaphank Fire Department’s 2019 Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of the Yaphank Fire Department’s Facebook page.

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