LI Villages Cancel New Year's Celebrations Amid COVID-19 Spike

PATCHOGUE, NY — Two bustling Long Island villages have canceled their popular New Year's Eve celebrations due to the continued rise in COVID-19 cases.

Patchogue's Midnight at Main ball rise — a misnomer because its at 7 p.m. — that was on for a comeback after a two-year absence, is off, again, this year due to the coronavirus.

Farmingdale's ball drop will also not be going ahead as planned, according to a report in Newsday.

Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce Executive Director David Kennedy made the announcemet to chamber members in an email on Tuesday, noting that the decision was made in conjunction with that of village and local public safety agencies that the chamber depends on "to make the event possible."

"Obviously, this decision is because of the continued rise of [COVID-19] and the Omicron variant," he wrote. "Specifically, we recognize that to host an event of this size under current circumstances, we would need to ensure all attending were masked and vaccinated, something our chamber would have difficulty doing."

"Further, many of the local agencies we depend on to assist us have communicated they have severe staffing shortages due to [COVID-19] that would leave our event without the personnel we would need to ensure the event is safe," he added.

Kennedy went on to apologize "to anyone disappointed in our decision."

He said that he could attest to the fact that the Village of Patchogue, Suffolk police, the Patchogue Fire Department, the Patchogue Ambulance Company, the village's public safety and Department of Public Works, as well as the Blue Point Brewery all "did everything possible to try and make this event happen," he said. "The chamber is sincerely grateful for their assistance despite the obstacles we had in planning this event."

"We will be back next year for sure," he said.

He concluded by thanking the event's sponsors Suffolk Legis. Rob Calarco, Fireworks by Grucci, North Star Signs, LFG Rigging, JVC Broadcasting, Bri-Tech, Inc, the Patchogue Arts Council, the Patchogue Business Improvement District, the Cirigliano Agency and PSA Security.

Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand confirmed for Newsday on Monday that the village's board of trustees canceled the ball drop, citing "the health and safety of the community."

"When situations permit, we look forward to continuing a robust program of community activities," he told the outlet.