There’s nothing like a good party — and Southforker magazine brought the big, sunny fun to the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach Saturday night, filling the evening with an abundance of deliciously curated bites, sips, sounds and so much more.
The 2026 Southforker Taste of Westhampton Beach was a sold-out event, and for good reason — kicking off the summer with all your favorite restaurants, wineries, breweries and spirits makers all under one gorgeous tent from Ace Party & Tent Rental has made this the must-go event of the season, and this one was no exception — or, perhaps, it was exceptional, thanks to presenting sponsor California Closets and other event sponsors who made it a night to remember.
“We loved showcasing the Southforker brand and the talented local chefs, wineries and breweries that make the Hamptons and North Fork a global travel destination,” says Times Review publisher Andrew Olsen. “There is nothing better than a great summer party and we were incredibly honored to work with our event sponsors and partners — thank you to everyone who made this event so special!”
With clear skies and quintessentially perfect weather, many took advantage of the early VIP entrance at 6 p.m. in order to dive into the multitude of makers who brought their A-game — the pesto draped, pine-nut dotted pasta from Insatiable Eats; the velvety tuna tartare with a kick from Sushi by Bou, the popular pastrami from Land and Sea Smokehouse — table after table provided new culinary surprises, punctuating the flavor of summer and showcasing all the delicious reasons why Southforker’s summer party has become a highlight of the season.
“I love seeing how much fun all our readers have at our annual Southforker event; it’s really become the flagship signal for summer,” says Amy Zavatto, editor-in-chief of Southforker magazine. “This year was so much fun and, as always, all our participating restaurants, wineries, breweries and spirits makers brought their A-game.”
Fueled by the high-energy of multi-instrument band In the Groove, the evening was full of fun and the crowd dancing from the event’s start until the last note played at the end of the evening. But there was more to explore outside the tent, too.
Event partner Tesla made their first appearance at the event, with a brand-new Cybertruck, and even a Tesla Optimus robot to charm the curious crowds.
Another first time appearance (and very popular activation)! came from Noyak resident Harold Thiers, who brought his Twin Forks Flying Simulator, to take SFTOWB attendees to new heights.
Event sponsors Modern Yachts, Strong’s Marine and Spellman Yachts festooned the festivities with stunning examples of the latest in recreational, high-speed boats, hosting attendees on board.
And with the U.S. Open making the scene all week, Westhampton Beach’s own Kerrigan Real Estate sponsored golf simulator was on target.
Also bringing their A-game was Strain Stars, the new Riverhead-based cannabis purveyor with delivery services, who was there to educate and inform
And, of course, sponsor Long Island Ice and Fuel outdid themselves with an ice sculpture, complete with a preview of Southforker’s July issue cover.
“The 4th Annual Southforker Taste of Westhampton Beach was our most successful event yet, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it happen,” says Steve McKenna of McKenna Events, who executed in partnership with Southforker.
Other sponsors on hand with activations and products to peruse included Verizon, Renewal by Anderson, Intelli-Tec Security Services, Owen Brothers Landscape (who brought beautiful potted plants and arrangements that dotted the grounds), Ocean Electric, Empire Volvo Cars Smithtown, Land Rover Southampton, HTE Home Technology Experts, Manhattan Beer, Nestle (who provided party-goers with hydration stations so they could dance the night away), 923 Coffee, Discover LI, Riverhead Bay Motors and Otis Ford.
If you didn’t get enough Saturday night (or you missed it!), don’t worry — in two months, our sister magazine will have its annual Northforker Wine & Food Classic on Thursday, September 3 at Borghese Vineyards in Cutchogue. Keep the party going and grab your tickets here!
