WinterFest is set to return to Arthur J. Hendrickson Park in Valley Stream this week with a full slate of holiday season activities, including a month-long display of lights and expanded involvement from the community.
Organized by the village, the popular event has grown steadily over the years, and now anchors the start of the winter holiday season for many local families.
WinterFest began in the winter of 2011 after Mayor Ed Fare took office, expanding on the village’s ongoing traditional events. The new event introduced Santa’s annual arrival by the Valley Stream Fire Department and photo sessions inside Village Hall. As WinterFest grew, it moved to the band shell area and gradually added more lights, inflatable decorations, costumes, activities and themed displays.
“Of all the great events that the village sponsors throughout the year, WinterFest is probably the most special,” Fare said.
During the pandemic, WinterFest adapted to a drive-through format at the village pool parking lot, allowing families to experience a full Santa display staffed with characters and elves while remaining in their cars. Organizers described the feature as one of the most successful introduced during that time, leading to the decision to move the event entirely into Hendrickson Park.
Since then, the village has developed a large, illuminated holiday setup centered around the gazebo and its tree, eventually expanding the display to remain lit for the entire month of December.
This year’s WinterFest will unfold over four days, from Dec. 4 through Dec. 7, preceded by nightly Santa runs through various Valley Stream neighborhoods, from 6 to 9 p.m. The fire department planned to escort Santa through the village night by night, starting in the area west of Central Avenue on Dec. 1 and continuing in the section east of Central on Dec. 2 and the Gibson neighborhood on Dec. 3, concluding with a loop through Mill Brook on Dec. 4.
WinterFest will begin with a soft opening on Dec. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m., and the full event will take place during the same timeframe on Dec. 5. Activities will continue through Dec. 7, including morning breakfasts and afternoon gatherings.
Dec. 4 evening’s soft opening will feature jitney rides, fire barrels for warmth and children’s arts and crafts at the Community Center. On Dec. 5, those activities will continue as the full celebration begins, with the addition of the village tree lighting, food trucks, the Christmas market, letters to Santa and hot chocolate served by the Boy Scouts. Santa will arrive by fire truck around 7 p.m. to take photos in his sleigh and student singing groups from local schools are set to perform on both evenings.
Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by McDonald’s, will be held Dec. 6 and Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon. Dec. 6 evening’s activities will run from 5 to 9 p.m., and the festival will conclude Dec. 7 afternoon with outdoor photos with Santa, from noon to 5 p.m.
“It really sets the tone for the village residents to really get into the spirit of Christmas,” Jimmy Fitanzo, the village’s recreation director, said. “It’s their first opportunity as a family to go and do something Christmassy and just get all into the event and get all festive. I think it’s a starting point, a kickoff to what families do on around Christmas.
“It takes away from the shopping and all that stuff,” he continued. “It just gives them an opportunity to come here, spend a couple of hours and make a memory. And it’s all about making memories.”
Plans for WinterFest begin immediately after the pool season ends, around Labor Day, followed by meetings to outline the year’s plans. Installation begins around Halloween, with support from multiple departments, including the Department of Public Works, highway, pool maintenance, recreation, electrical and parks. Crews spend around 30 to 35 days setting up lights, using bucket trucks to reach trees and displays.
This year, the village also expanded opportunities for local businesses to participate by adding new LED holiday displays. Each display includes signage recognizing the participating sponsor, giving local establishments a visible role in the community celebration.
Rich DeAngelis, the village’s deputy clerk, noted that families often end up staying longer than they expect once they begin walking through the park’s displays, so a little preparation goes a long way.
“Dress warm, definitely dress warm,” DeAngelis said. “You don’t realize when you’re out there, and you’re coming in, and you start spending some time, you find yourself you’re there for almost an hour and a half, two hours. You can get kind of cold. Definitely take advantage of the fire barrels, because they will warm you up.”
Organizers also encouraged turning the evening into a longer outing by exploring displays, participating in crafts, visiting food trucks, supporting local groups and building personal traditions around the event.
Resident feedback has remained positive, with families returning each year and continuing to visit the park throughout December, organizers said. Visitors often return throughout the month to take photos and enjoy the lights and displays, they added.
