Annual Glen Cove Downtown BID Holiday Festival Marks Start Of Season
All the elements that make the season bright—including singing, sleighbells and Santa, plus perfect weather—were part of the festivities that took place in downtown Glen Cove on Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District’s (BID) Holiday Festival.
To kick off the afternoon, free horse and carriage rides were offered through the streets of Glen Cove; a tradition that many look forward to each year, families eagerly lined up for a leisurely ride down Glen and School Streets. The schedule of events included performances by the Glen Cove Select Chorale, which performed a selection of holiday classics under the direction of Ed Norris; lively tunes by the Glen Cove High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Brittney Frank Rifkind; carols sung by the All Saints Regional Catholic School Schola, lead by Fran Howlett; and excerpts from Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol” by the Slayer Players theater troupe.
Throughout the day, children had the opportunity to take a free photo with Santa, and free enjoy candy canes, cookies and hot cocoa. Volunteers from All Saints Regional Catholic School and Glen Cove High School’s DECA club helped make the day flow smoothly.
As the BID’s festivities wound down, the City of Glen Cove stepped in for the annual Tree of Light Christmas tree lighting. Reverend Shawn Williams from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church gave the invocation before a large group of children joined him, Mayor Tim Tenke, members of the Glen Cove City Council, Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Senator-elect Jim Gaughran, on stage to light the tree and close the day with more carols.
“This is such a wonderful time of year to give thanks to our wonderful community, and the perfect way to do this is by treating them to a free holiday festival,” said Patricia Holman, executive director of the Glen Cove Downtown BID.
The Glen Cove Downtown BID would like to thank the many organizations, businesses, and individuals that made this holiday festival a wonderful event for our community, with special thanks to our sponsors: American Paving & Masonry, North Coast Subaru, The Regency at Glen Cove, The Mansion at Glen Cove, PetSmart, Henry’s Luncheonette & Confectionery, Gill Associates Photography, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, One and Only Dental, Joseph M. Basile Electric. Thanks also go out to the City of Glen Cove’s many departments that include Department of Public Works, Glen Cove Beautification Commission, Donald Blumhagen and Mike DiLeo of Glen Cove Auxiliary Police Department and the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department.
