Susan Lucci Named Grand Marshall Of Belmont Festival Parade

The annual festivities which surround the Belmont Stakes in the Villages of Garden City and Floral Park will take on a golden hue as Daytime Emmy Award Winner Susan Lucci headlines the traditional Belmont Festival Parade at Garden City, Friday, June 8.

Best known for playing the "larger-than-life" diva Erica Kane on the television soap opera, All My Children, Garden City resident Susan Lucci has become a daytime television icon, appearing on the soap opera since it's inception in 1970. Nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy for her work on All My Children almost every year since 1978, Lucci finally won a golden statute in 1999, after eighteen consecutive failed nominations - a record almost as notorious as her television character.

Sponsored by KeySpan and the Garden City Hotel, Lucci will help mark the 10th anniversary of the Belmont Festival at Garden City as Grand Marshall of the Belmont Festival parade, which will be held on theeve of the Belmont Stakes.

The pre-parade activities will begin at 6 p.m. with a street festival on 7th Street between Franklin and Hilton Avenues. All merchants on 7th Street are encouraged to enter a window decorating contest to show their support and enthusiasm for the Belmont Festival and the Belmont Stakes. Prizes will be awarded to the most creative shopkeepers.

The parade, itself, will get underway at 7 p.m. at 9th Street and Franklin Avenue, and wind its way south toward 7th Street on to Hilton Avenue and conclude at the Village Gazebo.

The parade and festivities will include a number of exciting events and activities including a performance by The Islip Horsemen's Association Long Island Drill Team. A Long Island mainstay for over 30 years, the drill team will step-up the celebration as its skilled riders and horses offer a lively performance as part of the fanfare.

The parade will also include: the family of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who captured the 2006 Belmont Stakes with Jazil and the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic with Horse of the Year Invasor; and the family of trainer Todd Pletcher, winner of theEclipse Award for leading trainer the past three years. Both families will be escorted in cars courtesy of Garden City Saab.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary, the festival will host a children's poster contest. Sponsored by Sunflower Fine Art & Frame and Walk Street, the poster design challenge will invite kids in grades K through 8 to create their best interpretation of Thoroughbred racing on 16" x 20" white poster paper. All submitted artwork will be on display in shop windows along the parade route on 7th and Franklin Street. Poster designs will be accepted at Sunflower Art & Frame until Friday, May 18. Cash prizes will be awarded courtesy of the Nassau County Police Chiefs. The first, second and third place winners of the contest will be announced at the Belmont Festival and will be invited to walk in the parade on Friday evening.

The parade will also highlight the winners of the annual Garden City hat contest, sponsored by The Island, a premiere Lilly Pulitzer Store, and Coach Realtors.

Those wishing to try their hand, or hats, in the categories of Triple Crown Creative Kids, Whimsically Belmont and Stylishly Garden City can stop by the Garden City Village Gazebo starting at 5 p.m. to register for the popular millinery event. Participants may also stop by The Island to pick up their registration forms prior to day of the event.

The Garden City street festival will also include live music, clowns, street performers and a "taste of Garden City" with local restaurateurs and food vendors lining the avenue.

The 139th running of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 9, at historic Belmont Park. Clubhouse walk-around admission is $10 and grandstand walk-around admission is $5. For more information about The Belmont Stakes, visit www.nyra.com or call 516-488-6000.