Huckleberry Frolic set to return

One of East Rockaway’s most anticipated annual village events, the Huckleberry Frolic, returns Saturday after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

The Frolic will begin at 10 a.m. with a parade from Althouse Avenue and Main Street to Memorial Park, on Atlantic Avenue, where the festivities will continue until 4 p.m. After the parade, there will be an opening ceremony, with representatives of Bethany Congregational Church offering a prayer, followed by a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” by Glor Na nGael Pipe & Drums.

All of the money raised at the event will go to the Grist Mill Museum, on Woods Avenue, which was built in 1688 and is symbolic of East Rockaway’s rich history. The Grist Mill Committee created the inaugural Huckleberry Frolic in 1969 as a way for the community to have fun and raise money for repairs and maintenance of the museum. The event was so successful that it has lasted more than five decades, and has grown each year.

Regina Cunningham, who serves on the Grist Mill Committee and is chairing the Frolic for the first time, said she was excited to see the effort and planning come to fruition.

“I put a lot of work into it,” Cunningham said.

There will be 30 vendors at this year’s event, as well as food trucks with ice cream and baked goods. The Frolic will also feature a live DJ, who will be on the scene throughout the day; a 22-foot slide for children to enjoy, a bounce house and slide for younger children, as well as a petting zoo featuring ducks, sheep, rabbits and more.

There will also be a martial arts program and a pet photo contest, where attendees can submit photos of their pets in one of many categories in the hope of winning a prize.

The Grist Mill Museum will also display Tootsie, an old fire engine pump from the 1800s, during the event and throughout the summer before it goes back into storage. The proceeds from the Frolic aids in paying for the maintenance of the museum, and the committee is also working on obtaining grants to help with its upkeep.

“The poor thing is a 1680 building,” Cunningham said. “It needs painting and a whole lot of work. So we have to get grants.”

East Rockaway Mayor Bruno Romano said he and the village board were excited to see the Frolic return and urged local families to bring others. He also praised Cunningham, noting that she and the committee have worked tirelessly since the fall to prepare for the Frolic.

“This event has been a tradition for many decades in our community,” Romano said.

“All of the proceeds from this event are earmarked for the Grist Mill Museum. The upkeep of our museum is quite exorbitant. This event certainly helps in raising funds to help maintain our wonderful museum. East Rockaway is certainly blessed to have a museum. We therefore need to keep it maintained so it will be here for generations to come.”

Cunningham said she was optimistic about this year’s turnout.

“I think it’s going to be very good because people are coming out of Covid,” she said. “I think they will come because there is something for the children, something for the adults, food if you’re hungry, and animals. I tried to cover all the bases to bring everyone in and have some enjoyment after we’ve all been locked away.”