North Valley Streamers celebrate the season

See more photos from the event here.

The sights and sounds of the holidays were quite prevalent in North Valley Stream on Monday night. Friends of North Valley Stream hosted its annual Christmas and Hanukkah celebration at the corner of Dutch Broadway and Corona Avenue.

The event began with a performance by the James A. Dever School Wind Ensemble. The group of fifth- and sixth-grade students played a variety of holiday songs under the direction of band teacher Glenn Guidone.

Guidone said some holiday songs, such as “Winter Wonderland” and “Hanukkah Joy” are mainstays in the ensemble’s repertoire, while other selections change from year-to-year. The North Valley Stream celebration is one of three holiday performances for his group, including the Malverne tree lighting and the school’s winter concert.

After the Dever students wrapped up their performance, Santa Claus came for a visit, handing out candy canes to all the children and posing for photos.

George Bakich, president of Friends of North Valley Stream, then led a countdown to the lighting of the Christmas tree, which will illuminate the Matthew Giglio Plaza every night through the holiday season. Lights for the tree are donated from members of the community. “This is a busy intersection,” he said. “It’s nice to pull into your community and see the holiday lights.”

A menorah will also light the plaza when Hanukkah begins next week.

Bakich said the holiday event began about 15 years ago and quickly became an annual tradition. It features students from North Valley Stream’s two schools — Dever and Howell Road.

While some years the event has been held in some very cold weather, Bakich said the Monday’s night temperatures in the upper 30s were at least tolerable. Still, there was hot chocolate to help keep everyone warm.

The Howell Road School Chorale concluded the event by singing a variety of holiday songs. The group of 15 students was led by music teacher Michael Rodgers on the mobile Town of Hempstead stage.

Bakich said the student musicians from both schools do a great job each year, and he is glad that members of the community take the time to come out. “This gives North Valley Stream a bit of an identity,” he said of the event. “It’s a nice way to kick off the holidays.”