Tree Lighting In Riverhead Town Square: 'This Is What We Envisioned'

RIVERHEAD, NY — Downtown Riverhead was aglow with the promise of a bright future as the first-ever holiday tree lighting took place Sunday.

A crowd turned out for the tree lighting, rescheduled from Saturday due to the poor weather.

The fun included a Goat on a Boat puppet show, music by the Riverhead middle school and high school choirs, East End Disabilities and more, and then, the tree lighting. The event also included hot cocoa, cider, candy canes, a reindeer selfie station, and giveaways.

"This was a historic day in Riverhead," said Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar.

Speaking with Patch at the event, Aguiar said, "This is the beginning." The new town square, she said, brings open space to downtown, as well as a view from the Peconic Riverfront to the Suffolk Theater.

Aguiar added that despite the rain, the inaugural "Rudolph's River Run" took place Saturday with more than 60 participants.

"I believe family- friendly events, such as the tree lighting ceremony, will be annual mainstays in downtown Riverhead for many years to come," Aguiar said. "I hope residents and visitors alike will participate and continue to join us at many future events as our new Town Square continues to evolve. This is what we envisioned."

Aguiar said the tree was 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."

Aguiar thanked the many who made the event possible, including PSEG National Grid, Neal Coleman Electric, The Riverhead Ciderhouse, Hotel Indigo — who donated the "Believe" sign, just like at Macy's from "Miracle on 34th Street," Aguiar said — the LIRR Museum, Robert James Salon, Dress for Success Brookhaven, and the Riverhead Fire Department.

A crowd gathered for the moment the tree was lit, with kids creating a chain and dancing around the tree, Aguiar said. "People converged in droves," Aguiar said. "It was a huge success."