“The Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce is excited to kick off our yearly events with our Springfest!,” said Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce president Eileen Tyznar, about the organization’s annual spring event to be held on Sunday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While the pandemic caused the event to shutter for a couple of years and come back on a smaller scale, this year Tyznar said the chamber is “happy to announce that we are back to closing Main Street, S. Main Street, and part of Railroad Avenue.”

A big draw of this year’s Springfest is a new attraction, a pickleball court set up on Gillette Avenue. Pickleball has gained quite the momentum in Islip Town with pickleball courts springing up at local park space. Pickleball, which has similarities to tennis and badminton and can be played as singles or doubles, involves paddles and plastic ball with holes. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle, Wash.). Three fathers worked together to develop the game for their children. Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the U.S. and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts.

Main Street stores and other small business owners will be setting up tables outside, and as with every chamber festival, there will be copious amounts of music and food.

The Spring Bonnet Contest will likely see the same stiff competition as witnessed in previous years, with whimsical and imaginative interpretations of the popular spring headwear. A scavenger hunt will task participants to find items in the store and restaurant windows for small prizes. There will be a raffle table, face painting, princesses, a petting zoo, and the opportunity for a visit and photo with the Easter Bunny (from noon to 3 p.m.).

“Our chamber calls this the kickoff event to say hello again to the community after the winter, and thank them for always continuing to support our small business owners and restaurants!” said Tyznar