A Christmas tradition in Huntington will not be happening this year.

The 75-foot Christmas tree that brought people together to the center of the village during the height of the pandemic in the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons will not be returning.

Business Improvement District (BID) board member Jack Palladino says residents loved the tree because they were able to take their holiday pictures in front of it. He says it felt like an alternative to going into New York City during the pandemic.

Palladino says now - shutting down Huntington's Wall Street causes issues for firefighters, EMS and police officers in an emergency.

"Unfortunately it's not gonna to happen this year - there are some safety issues that are involved," Palladino says. "The fire department had some issues with the street being closed - the giant tree that we had was difficult to maneuver around."

Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth says there will still be a tree lighting this year. It will take place at Heckscher Park on Nov. 26 following the Huntington Holiday Parade on Main Street.

Gisell Perez, the manager of New York Panini Sandwich Shop, says she is upset and believe businesses will suffer without a tree on Wall Street.

"It brought in so many families, so many people and to not have that business, it's going to stink for a lot of us," Perez says.

Others who live in the area say they liked the tree on Wall Street because it was a gathering place almost like Times Square. They say they are still happy that an event will take place at Heckscher Park.