Residents are reminded that this coming Saturday, May 10, is the long-awaited Centennial Parade and Fair in Floral Park. The parade, the largest the Village of Floral Park has ever hosted, includes four major divisions, which will be lining up on several streets north of Jericho Turnpike beginning at 10 a.m. The parade route is approximately 1.5 miles long and will conclude on Floral Boulevard.

Many road closures are expected for the duration of the parade, which is anticipated to last several hours. There are 21 bands in the parade, many of which feature school age children. In addition, village streets will be graced with several military units, 11 neighboring fire departments with assorted large vehicles, over 75 dignitaries, many local organizations and businesses with floats, antique cars and banners. And don't forget the horses! In addition to the Nassau County Mounted Police and Teddy Roosevelt era Rough Riders, three 50-foot trailers will arrive on Belmont Avenue to offload and hitch special, famous parade guests, eight Clydesdale horses, compliments of Clare Rose distributor for Anheuser-Busch Budweiser.

The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic and on-street parking from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 10: Belmont Avenue from Jericho Turnpike to Lowell Avenue; Willis Avenue from Lowell Avenue to Whittier Avenue; Irving Avenue from Lowell Avenue to Whittier Avenue; Hawthorne Avenue from Lowell Avenue to Whittier Avenue; Holland Avenue from Lowell Avenue to Whittier Avenue; Hinsdale Avenue from Lowell Avenue to Whittier Avenue; North Tyson Avenue from Lowell Avenue to Whittier Avenue; Jericho Turnpike from North Tyson Avenue to Plainfield Avenue; Plainfield Avenue from Jericho Turnpike to Tulip Avenue; Tulip Avenue from Plainfield Avenue to Verbena Avenue; Verbena Avenue from Tulip Avenue to Floral Boulevard; and Floral Boulevard from Verbena Avenue to Childs Avenue.

The parade route begins at 11 a.m. on Lowell Avenue at Willis Avenue. It will head west on Lowell to North Tyson Avenue to Jericho Turnpike, where it will travel east on Jericho to Plainfield Avenue. The parade continues down Plainfield Avenue to Tulip Avenue, turning right on Tulip to Verbena Avenue, where it will turn left to Floral Boulevard. The parade will pass the reviewing stands in front of Floral Park Village Hall and end on Floral Boulevard at Childs Avenue.

A reminder to commuters: the Carlton Parking Field will be closed this Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, for the Centennial Fair. There will be no under-the-railroad parking Saturday, May 10 from Carnation Avenue up to the escalator.

An old-fashioned fair will immediately follow the parade at the Carlton Parking Field. The fair, expected to be held from 1 to 5 p.m., will offer live music, compliments of Four Village Studio, a petting zoo, rock wall climbing, face painting, balloon sculpting, stilt walkers, raffles, pony rides, food and drinks, craft vendors and lots of activities for everyone to enjoy.

Music performances are as follows: at 1 p.m. The Wes Houston Band; at 2:15 p.m. The Bennett Harris Blues Band; at 3:30 p.m. Lil' Cliff & The Cliff Hangers; and at 4:45 p.m. The Jim Treutlein-Deb Novak Band.