Lots of fun on a chilly December Sunday

On a chilly Sunday, street vendors, live music, and good eats lined Main Street in Center Moriches. The Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches hosted its second annual Winter Wonderland on Dec. 11, drawing locals to Main Street in time for the holiday shopping season.

While a few hundred people passed through the wonderland from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., some believed more people would have turned out if the temperature was not quite as frigid. A light snow also began to fall during the early hours of the festival.

“I wanted to spread Christmas cheer through the Center Moriches community,” Melanie Grigonis, selling Swarovski jewelry, said. “It’s freezing today; I don’t think many people want to go out. It started snowing earlier and it’s super cold.”

Regardless of the weather, those who attended had a great time. Grandparents Julie and Bret Blomberg brought their granddaughter Emerson Rottach to the event, where she received a candy cane from Santa Claus.

“Moriches is doing a good job; it’s a nice little town,” Bret Blomberg said. “We wanted to come support the town and the vendors here.”

Some people came beyond the Moriches area just to see what all the fun was about.

“I was just looking up Long Island events and I found this really nice festival, so we decided to come out and see what they had available,” Kendra Snead, of Bay Shore, said after making the rounds through the vendors. “The soy candles smell really good, and we got some coffee at the library.”

For the vendors, including newcomer Loide DiPippa, selling her Loide Candle Co. soy candles, the event was a great way to connect with the community.
“This has been really, really good; this is my first vendor event, and I love it,” DiPippa, of Port Jefferson, said. “People are so friendly; everybody is so willing to support locals. I really love it. We did really well today.”