Santa parade

Hundreds turned out for Riverhead’s Holiday Extravaganza downtown Saturday, with the annual Santa Parade, festive tree lighting, bonfire and the debut of the East End Merry Mart. Photos.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec. 6. That’s the date for the “Riverhead Holiday Extravaganza”: the Santa parade, tree lighting and holiday bonfire, all held downtown. 

It’s the holiday season, and there’s plenty to do and see to celebrate. Here’s a sampling of what's going on this year in and around Riverhead Town this holiday season.

A good crowd turned out yesterday for the Riverhead Lions Club Santa Parade and the town's annual holiday bonfire on the riverfront Sunday afternoon, despite two weather-related postponements.

Saturday's weather forecast has again postponed Riverhead's Santa parade and bonfire, which are now set for Sunday afternoon.

Riverhead’s annual Santa parade and bonfire has been postponed to next Saturday, Dec. 18, due to weather concerns, according to the Business Improvement District.

The Riverhead Lions Club 69th Santa Parade and and the town's 21st annual holiday bonfire are set to take place Saturday, Dec. 11.

The cancellation punctuates a year of canceled community events, parades and festivals. Ironically, the 2019 Santa parade and bonfire was the last big community event to be held before the pandemic struck New York in March, soon followed by a statewide lockdown.

Santa Claus rolled into downtown Riverhead Saturday afternoon in the 68th Annual Lions Club Santa Parade.

The events scheduled for Saturday are postponed to next Saturday due to forecasted inclement weather this weekend.