East Meadow Community Day returns after two years, bringing back all of the generosity and family-friendly entertainment that locals have grown to love.
Community Day is made possible through a partnership between the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and the East Meadow Kiwanis Club. Both the Kiwanis Club and the chamber is also awarding several $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors from the area. Additionally, the Kiwanis Club will give a free book to every child in attendance.
Community Day has brought in over 2,000 people at past events. This year, almost 90 vendors are setting up stands to offer their goods free of charge.
Community Day has been a tradition in the East Meadow community for almost 40 years. Last year’s event was canceled due to rain, but this year’s event is set for June 13, starting at 10 a.m. in Speno Park.
Ted Rosenthal, a local attorney with Rosenthal, Curry and Kranz, LLP, and a member of the Chamber, described the event as a one-stop shop to explore East Meadow’s culture.
“We have vendors that can set up tables and give away anything that they want,” he said. “There was always only one rule, and that rule is that nobody gets charged. It’s a free event for all those who want to participate.”
The event’s other attractions range from a pie eating contest, courtesy of Stew Leonards, softball games that go on between East Meadow Little League and Central Nassau Little League, several dance troupes and bands, as well as a tree planting memorial service to honor East Meadow Kiwanis Club members who died.
Maureen Pye is one of the local business owners with a stand planned for the event. She is the area director for JAG Physical Therapy, working in the area for 15 years, and a longtime member of the Chamber.
“It’s one of my favorite things I think that we do in East Meadow,” she said. “We are giving a JAG branded frisbee to all of our kids, and then for the older population we have canvas tote bags, great for shopping, and some other little swag items, like chap sticks and sanitizers.”
Pye is the Chamber’s committee chair for events, coordinating all the sports clinics, performances and contests that will come, including one of the highlights of the annual tradition: the Color Run.
“We end the day with a fun color run for the kids,” she said. “They run around the park, we (toss) powder at them, they’re in white shirts, so they come out of a tie dye afterwards.”
Past Chamber President Roxanne Rose will staff the organization’s stand, managing the event’s bingo card.
Being a member of the chamber is “all about all the events that we have for kids and adults and everyone to join in… it really is a whole community coming together.”
Going to the stand of a non-food vendor allows an attendee to check off a square on the bingo card, which allows them to enter into a raffle for various prizes.
To learn more, visit EastMeadowChamber.com.
