Legal fight over, festival at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of Smithtown set to begin

A Smithtown church is preparing to hold its first three-day Fall Family Festival this weekend, starting Friday, after suing Village of the Branch for the right to hold it.

Deacon Jerry Reda, of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, said in an interview Wednesday that the church is aiming to put forward a “very family-friendly event” that they hope can eventually become a staple in the Smithtown community.

“The acceptance of this venue is great. People are excited,” Reda said. “You go to St. Rocco’s Festival, the Oyster Fest in Oyster Bay … there are community events that people look forward to, and that’s what we’re trying to build in Smithtown.”

The road to the festival was not easy: The church was involved in a yearlong legal battle with Village of the Branch for the right to hold it.

The church, located on East Main Street and in operation since 1966, applied with the village in March 2024 for a special permit and waiver to hold a family festival that September, featuring food, rides and games.

However, the village in May 2024 rejected the church’s application, arguing that village code prohibits “a carnival, circus or other amusement-park-type operation" in the historic district, where the front part of the church is located. The code also bars "rides or other activities usually connected with commercial carnivals" in the district.

The rejection triggered a lawsuit the church filed later that year in State Supreme Court in Suffolk County against the village. The attorneys for the church argued in the lawsuit that by denying their event application, the village had effectively denied "St. Patrick's of their right to the free exercise of religion."

The village’s Board of Trustees in May approved a new application after the church submitted a plan for a three-day fundraiser with rides, games and food situated on athletic fields near the church, Newsday previously reported.

“From our perspective, we hope they have a good festival, we hope it’s safe and there’s minimal disruptions to residents, but we wish them well and we hope it goes well for them,” said Village of the Branch Mayor Mark Delaney.

Reda said the church — which he said owns more than 16 acres of land and is one of the largest Catholic parishes on Long Island — received “a strong outpouring” of community support for the festival. That support, he said, has been reflected in strong advance ticket sales and more than 100 regional and national sponsors for the event, all of which have “exceeded” the church’s expectations.

The festival will feature mechanical rides such as a Ferris wheel and a swinging ship, children’s rides, carnival games, gourmet food, a beer and wine garden, and other entertainment.

The event’s proceeds will go toward the church, which Reda said are necessary to help it operate.

“We want to be able to promote membership to our school and parish during this event, and it helps raise funds,” Reda said. “We rely on people to come through our doors, and we don’t sell anything. People make donations when they come to church on weekends, and that’s how we keep the lights on.”

As for public safety, Reda said, the church is working with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County police, the Town of Smithtown’s Public Safety and Fire departments, and other local agencies.

Delaney said the church recently applied for a permit to hold another festival next year, which is still pending.