Patchogue Fourth Of July Parade Nixed, Ceremony Planned Instead

PATCHOGUE, NY — The annual Patchogue Lions Club Fourth of July parade has been nixed this year, but there are still plans to hold a ceremony at the Four Corners at Main Street and Ocean Avenue on Sunday.

The streets in the area surrounding Main Street will be closed down to make way for the ceremony, which will be the largest gathering in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A socially distanced ceremony was held last year in the place of a parade and it was broadcast so people could watch at home.

The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m.

Lion Peter Feehan, who organized the ceremony, said the club has hosted the parade for the past 65 years, and even though gathering restrictions were lifted, there was not enough time to plan a parade similar to those held in past years.

“But we will be back next year,” he added.

This year’s theme is “Salute to the flag” and the ceremony will include a performance of patriotic music by the Atlantic Community Band, as well as speeches by elected officials, and there will be veterans from all three local organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2913, American Legion, and AMVETS, as well as the Patchogue Fire Department taking part in the ceremony.

Feehan said the club has seen a decline in donations since the onset of the pandemic and its members are asking ceremony attendees to bring eyeglasses so that they can be donated to people who need them.