Candy Land parades through streets of Huntington village

There was enough candy on the streets of Huntington village Saturday to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

The Greenlawn Fire Department's truck pulled a gingerbread house float with candy canes and other sweets in the annual holiday parade and street festival.

A landscaping company's float featured another edible house, with M&Ms on the roof. Children stretched their hands out to grab candy from volunteer firefighters and elves, too.

"It's really good, family-oriented, wholesome fun," said Huntington resident Bruce Segal, 49, a parade regular.

In its sixth year, the parade usually draws about 5,000 to 10,000 spectators, village officials say. The theme was Candy Land.

A gingerbread house competition is one of the newest additions. Bakeries throughout town were invited to take part.

Entries were displayed on a Wall Street storefront and paradegoers voted for the winning gingerbread house, which will be on display at Town Hall through the first week of January.

Bart Pontecorvo, 53, who co-owns Atomic Tae Kwon Do with his wife, Luiza Raab, handed out candy -- and free lessons -- to children.

"Every parade you're going to see thousands of kids," he said.

Scooby Doo and Tony the Tiger marched with the Huntington Manor Fire Department.

Members of the Halesite Fire Department junior firefighter program wore ugly sweaters and rode atop an Ugly Sweater Shop float.

Again this year, Glen Cove's North Shore Pops Concert Band performed a Christmas arrangement, and led a sing-along of such classics as "Jingle Bells" at the town's tree lighting ceremony.

"We love people who love music," said band president Stephen O'Reilly, who plays the clarinet.