Classic car drive-by parade in Oceanside brings smiles to twin boys on birthday

“Strong Island Car Parades 4 Kids” cruised through Oceanside and down Links Drive East on Tuesday to wish twins Mason and Jaxson Lynch a happy 4th birthday.

Classic cars drove past the boys’ house, where they were standing out on the lawn with their parents and grandparents. The passersby honked their horns and waved signs.

“It was amazing,” said Dana Lynch, the twins’ mother. “The boys are still talking about it. They’re telling [my in-laws] over FaceTime, ‘The cars went by! They went vroom vroom!’”

Lynch had planned a superhero-themed birthday party for Mason and Jaxson. But instead, she ordered them their favorite dinner — Domino’s pizza — and a birthday cake, which her parents and sister enjoyed, as well, from a social distance, before surprising the boys with their presence. Afterwards, they all enjoyed the car parade outside.

Lynch said the excitement of the parade was a great substitute for the party. “It’s a wonderful thing to do for children who can’t be with their peers or family,” she said. “Family members can either join the parade, sit in the driveway or stay in their cars.”

Drive-by parades have become a distinct feature of how people celebrate birthdays and show their appreciation during social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic.

As these drive-bys became more and more popular, the Facebook group “Strong Island Car Parades 4 Kids” emerged, started by Mike LaRocca, of Copaigue Harbor, owner of Evrything Auto in Bethpage.

LaRocca and Danielle Spina, of Seaford, organize daily routes based on the “overwhelming amount of requests” they get for kids’ birthdays. Parents will go to the Facebook group and create an event. Then, car lovers meet up and follow each other to each house.

Before Mason and Jaxson’s birthday drive-by, cars of many colors gathered in the former Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot on Long Beach Road, then headed out at around 6:30 p.m. to greet the birthday boys.

Oceanside resident Franco Candela, car enthusiast and owner of Attention To Detail, a local automobile detailing service, drove his red Mustang Cobra in the parade. He has been to about six birthday car shows for kids since the pandemic hit.

“It’s for the kids,” he said. “I have two of my own, and I think it’s a terrible time for them that they can’t enjoy their birthday parties with their friends.

“This brings a little bit of happiness and hope to the kids,” he added, “and families, as well, to see that people care.”