Having Fun in RVC

In Rockville Centre

Throughout the year, the Village of Rockville Centre offers plenty of opportunities for families to come together and have fun, especially with pandemicrelated restrictions loosening. There are events all year round throughout the village that highlight the reasons that it’s truly great: the community, the restaurants, the businesses and the individuals. In February, the Rockville Centre Community Fund hosts its biggest fundraiser of the year, a night at Margaritaville. The evening features food, fun and live music. The fund was created in 1987 by former mayor Eugene Murray. It gives money and aid to Rockville Centre residents in their time of need. Spring is a busy (and fun) time of year in the village. Things kick off with South Side High School’s annual Red and Blue competition. Get ready to see folks in Rockville Centre take sides, as signs spring up on houses and lawns and high school girls get ready for one of the biggest events of the year. Going strong for more than 100 years, Red and Blue is a color war that also fosters leadership, teamwork and school spirit. As soon as the red and blue colors go away, the green comes out. March is also when the village hosts the annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade. The “parade that cares and shares” has been a staple in the community for nearly 30 years, and is also a fundraiser. Each year, the parade picks one local, one national and one Irish charity to support. More than $1 million has been donated to dozens of charities since the parade’s inception. One of the most amazing events around comes to Rockville Centre in May. It’s when South Side High School hosts Centre Stage, a musical production put on through an inclusive theater program that comprises both general education and special education actors.

Christina Daly/Herald The South Side High School Red and Blue competition always draws a crowd.

Sue Grieco/Herald Though the annual July 4 fireworks show was canceled for 2021 due to a law change regarding fireworks, there is hope for it in the future. The Romero family, Avril, Alesandra and Carmen, filmed the fireworks during a past show.

Zoom screenshot The Rockville Centre Education Foundation Gala had to be replaced in April due to the coronavirus, leading to members of the foundation coming up with a virtual trivia competition as a fundraiser. At the end of May, the village pays respect to its fallen heroes with the annual Memorial Day parade. The event commemorates all those who Rockville Centre has lost. Each year, a different grand marshal, who is always a Rockville Centre veteran, is selected to lead the parade. In July, the village celebrates its anniversary with an annual fireworks show, held this year at Mill River Park. What began as a celebration of the village’s centennial has become an annual event, with thousands of people showing up to watch the South Shore Symphony perform before being dazzled by an amazing fireworks display. This year, the village celebrated 125 years since becoming incorporated in 1893. The fall kicks off with the Chamber of Commerce’s Food and Wine Festival. People from across Long Island come to Rockville Centre to sample menu items from the local restaurants and try wines and beers from local manufacturers and brewers. The EAT.SHOP.ROCK. street festival exclusively features Rockville Centre businesses and performers, and is a fantastic time for everyone to see what the community has to offer. In October, South Side High School gets the community together for Homecoming. The football team and the cheerleaders parade through the streets, joined by representatives from each of the school’s four classes and their themed floats. After the parade, the Cyclones take on one of their rival teams.

As the weather gets cooler, people flock to the village’s annual 5k/10k/Family Fun Run in November. Thousands of people come out to run the route that winds through the village’s streets. Things close out in December with the village’s annual tree lighting at the Village Green. Holiday songs and hot chocolate are available for everyone before one fortunate village resident gets to flip the switch and light up the big tree at the park. So mark your calendars early. Because no matter the time of year, there’s something fun going on in Rockville Centre.