2024 Elmont/Belmont Parade will be held on Saturday, June 1

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) joined the Elmont Parade Committee to announce the return of the Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont Parade, which will be held on Saturday, June 1.

This year will mark the 16th edition of the parade celebrating the Elmont community and the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at Saratoga Race Course in 2024 to allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park. As a result, this year’s parade will step off from the Covert Avenue School at 10 a.m. and continue west on Hempstead Turnpike before concluding at the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex adjacent to the Elmont Library (700 Hempstead Turnpike).

Individuals interested in marching in this year’s parade should assemble at 9:30 a.m. in the Covert Avenue School parking lot.

The parade honors the late Paul Sapienza, a lifelong Elmont resident and former president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, who passed away in 2020.

Among the participants will be elected officials, local leaders, marching bands from Elmont public schools, members of the police and fire departments and local youth organizations. The parade distance is approximately one mile.

Anna and Vito Cortesiano, owners of Salvatore’s of Elmont, have been chosen as grand marshalls of this year’s parade. While its Italian cuisine attracts guests from across the region, Salvatore’s has become an institution in Elmont by hosting local events and offering donations to the local community.

In addition to the parade, NYRA will host an exhibition soccer tournament featuring local student athletes from New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park Memorial High School, and Elmont Memorial High School at the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex following the parade.

For more information about the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, visit BelmontStakes.com.