WMHO’s Annual Holiday Festival to Feature World-Acclaimed Giant Puppetry

Stony Brook, NY – Here come the puppets! 2017 will mark 38 years The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) has hosted its magical Holiday Festival in Stony Brook Village.  This year’s event, taking place Sunday, December 3, is sure to amaze visitors with the addition of 14 foot giant puppets created by renowned artists.

Local legends and the very beginning of espionage in the United States are part of the fiber and culture of the Three Village area, and they will be celebrated in dramatic fashion through this art.   The “Legends and Spies” Puppet Procession through Stony Brook Village will bring this history to life in the form of Ward and Dorothy Melville, visionary philant hropists and WMHO founders and Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge, members of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring. Shipbuilder Captain Jonas Smith, who owned the Hallock Homestead (now the Three Village Inn), and is thought to be Long Island’s first millionaire, will also march with this illustrious group.

The procession of puppets, led by Tom Manuel, President and Founder of The Jazz Loft and a New Orleans Brass Band will begin at 2:15 pm at the Stony Brook Fire Department in the Harbor Crescent section of the Village. WMHO Youth Corps families have volunteered their time to be “puppet handlers.”  Additional festivities starting at 1 pm include live music with WALK Radio, carolers, a holiday train display at the Cultural Center December 3 through 29 (private showings available), Wiggs Opticians Holiday Windows and, of course, Santa who arrives on a Stony Brook Fire Department antique truck at 2 pm to hear children’s wishes until 5 pm.  He returns in dramatic style at 5:30 pm atop the Stony Brook Fire Department’s 3,000 light float for the annual tree lighting. 

There is also the Promenade of Trees competition where families and community members decorate some 60 holiday trees which are on display through January 2.  The public votes for the winner who will receive a $150 Stony Brook Village Gift Certificate usable in all shops and restaurants.

Major event sponsors are Audi Smithtown, Lexus of Smithtown, Softheon, Damianos Realty Group, Ford of Smithtown and Bethpage Federal Credit Union.  Public funding provided by Suffolk County.

 

For additional information call 631-751-2244 or visit www.stonybrookvillage.com.