Smithtown's 350 Anniversary Parade A Cast Of Thousands And An Audience Of Many More

Best In Show - Whisper VineyardsSmithtown Library - Most CreativeOn the long list of events planned to celebrate Smithtown’s 350th anniversary was a parade down Main Street. Smithtown 350 Foundation members, tasked with planning events for the anniversary celebration, didn’t want just a parade - they wanted a parade of historic proportions. The check list for the parade included bands (lots of bands), banners, floats, costumes, dignitaries, young people, large turnout, awards, a master of ceremony, grand marshal, bulls, horses, antique vehicles, fire departments, SCPD, business, chambers of commerce, service organizations, the oldest and newest in Smithtown, volunteers, sponsorship and great weather. 

By all accounts the Foundation did what they set out to do. The parade was historical, it was huge and it was one for the record books. Seventy-one different groups, seventeen floats and 2,200 people marched in the parade. Thousands lined Main St. waving and cheering. There were smiling faces everywhere.

Women’s Sufferage - Most Historic GroupMarchers made their way down Main Street and were greeted by Master of Ceremony, Historian Noel Gish, who announced each group and offered commentary as they passed the reviewing stand. Mr. Gish was joined on the reviewing stand by Bradley Harris and Nissequogue mayor Richard Bull Smith.

Dignitaries included Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and Town Board members Creighton, McCarthy and Nowick. County Executive Steve Bellone, Congressman Lee Zeldin, NYS Senator Flanagan and Assemblyman Fitzpatrick, Legislators Trotta and Kennedy as well as County Comptroller Kennedy. Judges Sandra Sgroi, Janine Barbera Dalli and John Toomey.

Best Dressed Group: Presbyterian ChurchThe parade’s success is attributable to the Smithtown 350 Foundation’s parade committee Maureen Smilow, Carolyn Borrella, Marianne Howard, Al Hornburger, Lillian Munro, Joann Betts, Annette Kosar, Rich Graztick, William Garthe and Walter Thomas headed by Chairperson Michael Donnelly.  The planning for the parade took almost a full year and was quite challenging. Leadership of the committee changed, the original date was changed from the 19th to the 26th, and the route of the parade was changed from east to west. 

According to Mike Donnelly, everyone who wanted to participate in the historic parade was welcome to do so. “Our goal was to make this parade inclusive and fun.” said Mike. “We reached out to all of our local fire departments and they all participated. We had students from Hauppauge, Kings Park and Smithtown as well as The Knox School, St. Patrick’s, and St. Anthony.”

Best Thematic Float: St. James Chamber of CommerceThere was a tremendous effort to get young people involved. “This event, like everything planned during this anniversary celebration, was an opportunity to present and to educate people about Smithtown’s rich history,” said Town Historian Bradley Harris. 

It was Maureen Smilow who worked the hardest to get the young people involved. For Maureen, a former teacher, it was a challange she gladly accepted. 

“I was involved with contacting the teachers at Smithtown East and West who were responsible for the Social Studies Honor Societies. In turn the teachers selected student volunteers who arrived at the registration area on parade day.   It was hoped that by providing the students with Smithtown 350 t-shirts and the opportunity to assist the marchers in locating their positions, the students would feel connected to this historic event and an appreciation for their Town’s past.  They were very helpful and it was reassuring to the marchers to have their own personal guides during the staging process. We were also very fortunate to have students from 10 schools participate in the parade as either marchers or members of marching bands.  The enthusiasm demonstrated by the students provided a palpable energy that let the older generation know the future of Smithtown was in capable hands.” Stated Maureen Smilow. 

Five trophies were awarded to winners of the float and costume competition. 

The winners were:

        Best in Show:  Whisper Vineyards

        Most Creative Float:  The Smithtown Library

        Best Thematic Float:  St. James Chamber of Commerce

        Best Dressed Group:  Presbyterian Church

        Most Historic Costumes:  Women’s Sufferage Group

Eight school bands all received a trophy “presented in appreciation” for participating in the parade:

        Hauppauge Marching Band

        Smithtown HS West Marching Band

        Smithtown HS East Marching Band

        Kings Park HS Marching Band

        Great Hollow MS Marching Band

        St. Patrick School

        The Knox School

        St. Anthony’s Band

All the Fire Departments also received a trophy for participation.

For Foundation members the parade was not only fun, but also somewhat overwhelming. “No one expected the kind words and thank-you’s that were shouted from the crowd as we walked down Main Street. It was wonderful and appreciated.” Said Joanne Betts and Lillian Munro.

Everyone can agree that the Smithtown 350 Anniversary Parade is one for the history books. 

More photos - Smithtown 350 Parade & Smithtown 350 Parade part II