OB-EN Chamber Expands Bay Day And Doubles The Fun Family Event

Doubling Bay Day made for three times the visitors

Visitors to Bay Day 2012 had the opportunity to view what happens on a daily basis in Oyster Bay — on the land and on the water. Walter Imperatore of Renaissance Properties co-chaired the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce’s (OB-EN CC) part of Bay Day with Michele Browner, president.

Bay Day was run using local people including: local artists, the Oyster Bay Youth Athletic Association kids, who took over the new ball fields at the Theodore Roosevelt Park, and participants from the Tuesday’s Cruise Night car shows and the Farmers Market. “Dancing in the Streets was supposed to take place but was rained out,” said Mr. Imperatore. “The Bay Day events highlighted all the things that normally take place in Oyster Bay.”

While the WaterFront Center kept visitors busy on the Western Waterfront, the chamber created events on Audrey Avenue that included a dog parade and street fair complemented by George Melillo’s Oyster Rides trolley that brought visitors back and forth between events and cultural locations.

Mr. Imperatore was very excited about a new boating event they created. He and Dawn Riley, Oakcliff Sailing Center executive director, decided to hold a lighted boat parade as is done in other areas such as Patchogue, Huntington and Block Island, where they have Christmas in August.

oysterbay 2012 06 bd 3 — Oyster Bay’s L’Industrie set up their handmade, originally designed skateboards. Photo by Shari Cope-Dembowski

Mr. Imperatore said the 1st Annual Lighted Boat Parade was done in conjunction with the Oakcliff Sailing Center and Sagamore Yacht Club. Although it had only a few boats involved this year, he was excited to say that it was a great event and they will hold it again next year. The lighted boat parade was conceived as an introduction to Bay Day.

“There were only four boats that participated, but this was the inaugural event. Next year it should be much bigger. The participants and audience did enjoy it- even though it was short,” said Shari Cope-Dembowski, OB-EN CC administrative assistant. The boats assembled off of Seawanhaka Yacht Club at 8:15 p.m. The parade began at 8:30 and headed for the Sagamore Yacht Club for the awards and cash bar. The judges stand was at the Oyster Bay Marine Center and people could view boats from Sagamore as well, she commented.

Walter Imperatore and Michele Browner, the co-chairs of the OB-EN Chamber of Commerce’s share of Bay Day, were standing at the center of the activity, the elbow of Audrey Avenue. Photo by Shari Cope-Dembowski

Hamlet Cup Regatta

On June 2, the WFC also planned to hold the annual Bay Day Hamlet Cup Regatta but it was cancelled because of the weather. Mr. Imperatore said he told people, “I won the race last year and I wanted to give competitors more time to practice this year. It will be held on July 28 at 9 a.m. Now that we have postponed it, other boats are signing on.” If someone is interested in taking part in the race, contact the chamber at 922-6464 or the WFC at 922-SAIL.