Parade Pride, Beach Closures & Big Local News

Happy July 4th! As we gather for fireworks and festivals, we remember what holds us together, family and neighbors showing up. Stay safe, stay involved, and we’ll see you on Main Street.

-Brian Grant, managing editor, writer

Local Pulse

🚨 A Medford woman was arrested in Farmingville for allegedly promoting prostitution after recruiting sex workers from Europe and advertising them on social media, according to Suffolk County police. Investigators say she facilitated travel and client meetings across Suffolk County and may have worked with others. Patch

⚖️ A construction supervisor from Blue Point, was sentenced to a year in prison for covering up a fatal workplace accident in East Patchogue, federal officials said. He admitted to making false statements and obstructing an OSHA investigation after a worker fell from an unsecured roof. Daily Voice

🐾 A Moriches mother was charged with animal cruelty and criminal mischief after allegedly kicking a disabled Army veteran’s service dog during a dispute at a Patchogue Chuck E. Cheese, Suffolk SPCA officials said. The dog was injured and required veterinary care; additional charges are under consideration. MSN

🏖️ Sayville Marina Park Beach and Bayport Beach are among 14 Long Island beaches closed due to high levels of bacterial contamination, according to Suffolk County health officials. Patch

🍗 Lola’s Southern Cuisine has opened its second location in Patchogue, bringing soul food staples like oxtail, fried catfish, and banana pudding to East Main Street. Owners Tiffany and Darrell Darwood shifted focus from a delayed Middle Island project to embrace Patchogue’s vibrant, food-loving community. Greater Long Island

Day in History

Patchogue’s Fourth of July Parade Celebrates Community Across the Decades

On July 3, 1947, the Patchogue Advance described what would become one of the most colorful parades in village history. Sponsored by the Patchogue Lions Club, the event featured 35 floats and a wide range of participants. From Boy Scouts to bathing beauties and culminating in a fireworks show launched from a barge anchored off Ocean Avenue. Nearly eight decades later, in 2025, the Lions Club is once again at the helm, organizing this year’s Independence Day parade with the same community spirit.

That year’s parade was led by grand marshal John M. Harding, and even the order of veterans' groups was decided with a coin toss. This year the grand marshall is Mayor Paul Pontieri.

While faces, fashions, and floats may have changed, the heart of Patchogue’s celebration remains the same. Residents are invited to line the streets and cheer for their neighbors and celebrate the country’s birthday.

Community Highlights

• The Patchogue Theatre is lighting up the stage with great shows at a revolutionary $17.76 ticket price during its Independence Day Sale—hurry, offer ends July 7 with code USA! [Patchogue Theatre]

• The Life of Chuck is playing at Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center from July 4-10. A poignant, time-bending drama adapted by Mike Flanagan from the Stephen King novella. [Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center]

• Patchogue’s annual 4th of July Parade kicks off at 10:30 AM on Friday, July 4, marching down Main Street from West Ave to Rider Ave. Expect festive floats, marching bands, and plenty of patriotic spirit!

• Bellport Village is buzzing this July 4th with art, antiques, and local flair — including the beloved "Artists on the Lane" and antiques fairs at Mary Immaculate Church and the Historical Society. Don’t miss your chance to vote on the 2025 Bellport Festival Poster between 11–3 at 139 South Country Road!

• The Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association has announced As Time Goes By, a summer evening at Meadow Croft on July 12 featuring film composer J.K. Hodge performing a century of piano melodies in the historic Roosevelt estate. [Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association]

• The Village of Patchogue has announced Sidewalk Sales running Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13 from 10 AM–5 PM along Main Street by The Colony Shop in Patchogue. [Village of Patchogue]

• Mountain Music will perform a country set as part of the Bellport Summer Bandshell Concert Series on Friday, July 4 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. In case of rain, concerts may be postponed or canceled.

• Artwork from the South Bay Art Association's plein air event will be showcased at the Bellport Day Exhibition on Saturday, July 26, with judging taking place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. [South Bay Art Association]

• The New York State Senate has launched the 2025 Summer Reading Program, themed “Color our World: Colorea Nuestro Mundo,” encouraging kids to read for fun and discovery all summer long. Participants can earn an official certificate by submitting their reading form by August 22. [New York State Senate]

• Patchogue's Summer Block Party, hosted by 89 North Music Venue on July 12, will bring back nostalgic vibes with live bands, vibrant vendors, and plenty of community fun. Listen Up Long Island invites everyone to don their best Hawaiian shirts and join the festivities.

Community Highlights

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