Little New York Daze returns to Longview on July 16 and 17 featuring familiar favourites and small-town family fun.
Festivities at Centennial Park kick off with a free pancake breakfast on Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by the parade at 11 a.m.
This year, the parade will go through the Village and stay off Highway 22, said Sean McCarthy, Little New York Daze president.
“This year, we're just going to have a parade within the village (itself),” McCarthy said.
Each year, there is a parade theme, and this year, the theme is Salute to First Responders.
Peace officers will lead the parade, and it will end with members and fire trucks from the local fire department. Past themes have included a Salute to Pioneers and a Salute to Athletes.
Little New York Daze will be scaled back this year, McCarthy said, given the last few years dealing with COVID-19, and the funding required to put on the event.
Fundraising opportunities have been few and far between since the last Little New York Daze in 2019.
“We couldn’t raise much for funds,” he said, adding that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sweetheart Dance couldn’t go ahead this year. The Valentine's themed dinner and dance is a big source of funding for Little New York Daze.
Besides funding, it takes teamwork to make things happen in a village of only about 320 people, and different organizations in the community pull together to make things happen.
“We rely heavily on volunteers,” McCarthy said. “We all help each other out.”
Following the pancake breakfast and parade, there are events planned throughout Saturday, featuring children’s games from 1-3:30 p.m. and the Fire Hall supper at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, Church in the Park begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.
Two big draws take place on Sunday afternoon. Forty or 50 vehicles will be in the show and shine, McCarthy estimates, and local musicians are set to entertain during music in the park until 4:30 p.m. There will also be a beer garden set up that afternoon.
“It’s a fun time,” McCarthy said of the event. “It's about getting everybody out there and seeing people you maybe haven't seen for a while.
“And really, it's all about the kids.”
He added the Little New York Daze Association is on the lookout for some younger volunteers.
“It'd be nice to get some of the younger folks involved in the association, get some new, fresh ideas and that kind of thing,” he said.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/LittleNewYorkDaze.
