'Rudolph's River Run', Tree Lighting Infuse Riverhead With Holiday Fun

RIVERHEAD, NY — Downtown Riverhead will come alive with the joy of the holiday season Saturday with events planned to kick off the festivities.

To begin, in partnership with RaceAwesome, Riverhead Town officials recently announced the inaugural "Rudolph’s River Run," presented by RXR & GGV on Saturday, December 3. The 4-mile, holiday themed family-friendly walk / run will begin at Tanger Factory Outlets and travel east along the Peconic River, before finishing in the new Riverhead Town Square.

The race will also include a 1k run for children. After the races, hot cocoa, chicken soup and roasted marshmallows will be available to race participants at the Town Square and will be followed by an awards ceremony. The Riverhead Salvation Army will be collecting new, unwrapped toys from those who wish to donate, officials said.

The race will begin promptly at 9 a.m. To preregister at the discounted price, click here.

Next, beginning at 3:30 p.m., the town will host its first-ever tree lighting at Town Square downtown. The fun will include a Goat on a Boat puppet show at 3:30 p.m, music by the Riverhead middle school and high school choirs, East End Disabilities and more at 4:15 p.m. — and then, the tree lighting at 5 p.m.

The event includes refreshments and giveaways.

“December 3 will be a historic day in Riverhead as the first of two major events will take place at the Riverhead Town Square," said Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar. "I believe these family- friendly events, such as Rudolph’s River Run and the tree lightening ceremony, will be annual mainstays in downtown Riverhead for many years to come. I hope residents and visitors alike will participate in both events on December 3 and continue to join us at many future events as our new Town Square continues to evolve.”

Aguiar said the tree is an 18-foot Colorado blue spruce donated by Warner Nursery. "This is the first official annual holiday tree lighting for Riverhead and symbolizes growth, strength, and sturdiness, love, gratitude, protection and happiness," Aguiar said. "It will also symbolize the imminent growth at our new Town Square."

RXR, said Joe Graziose, EVP of residential development and construction at RXR, "is an innovative investor, developer and place-maker committed to applying a customer and community-centered approach to building properties, services, and products that create value for all stakeholders. Together, Georgica Green Ventures and RXR are proud to be the primary sponsors of the inaugural Rudolph’s River Run, the first major event to take place at the new Riverhead Town Square."

“GGV is a local leader in providing high-quality, sustainable affordable housing for all,” added David Gallo, president of Georgica Green Ventures. “GGV is proud to be a major sponsor of this Riverhead event."