Summer may be peak time for the Hamptons to be firing on all cylinders, but we’ll take a sunny, slightly crispier September day instead, pretty much every time. As we say goodbye to one season and a slow, steady (fingers crossed!) to another, we can’t deny this month sees a slew of festivals highlighting and reminding us all why the East End is such a special place.
San Gennaro Feast of the Hamptons
The San Gennaro Feast of the Hamptons comes to Good Ground Road in Hampton Bays this Saturday and Sunday bringing the East End masses the best in Italian food and festive street fair fun. In between the pizza eating contest and . There’ll also be a fireworks display (around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday) and a slew of live music performances all day long both days.
The Montauk Seafood Festival returns to The End this Saturday and Sunday, taking place on the village green in the center of town from noon to 5 p.m. both days. Visitors will enjoy brews from Montauk Brewing Co., signature seafood dishes, sweet treats and classic American fare from about a dozen local vendors, plus live music each day. Fun for the kids include face painting, tattoos and games, as well as family fun from Cornell Cooperative family-friendly activities and an ocean exploration table. all of which help support the Montauk Friends of Erin and the East Hampton Kiwanis Club. Tickets are $5 per person. Cash only.
The annual HarborFest comes to Sag Harbor Saturday Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20, providing locals and visitors alike with end-of-summer fun that celebrates and honors the former whaling village’s rich nautical history from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. This year’s action features myriad local food vendors situated along Long Wharf, whaleboat races, complimentary yoga on Windmill Beach, corn-shucking contests, a 90-minute sail to celebrate Sag Harbor, clam shucking contests, fun and games for the kids, and plenty of festive fall-themed fun. Live music will be played at Steinbeck Park, Bay Street Theater’s courtyard, with musical acts including Julia King, Gene Casey and The Lone Sharks, Bryan Gallo, the HooDoo Loungers and more. Additionally, the annual Arts & Crafts fair will be at Marine Park on Bay Street both days, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Church (48 Madison St., Sag Harbor, 631-919-5342) hosts the Sag Harbor Song Festival, now in its fifth year, a three-day long festival of varied musical programming from Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20. This year’s roster includes six young operatic stars: Tessa McQueen, Elisa Sunshine, Meridian Prall, Daniel O’Hearn, Ben Taylor and Michael Sumuel. Together, they’ll present a program of opera, musical theater, songs and lieder over the course of three concerts. Festival passes are sold out, but individual concert tickets are available for $75 each.
Sag Harbor American Music Festival
Toward the end of this month, Sag Harbor Village serves as the multi-faceted venue for the annual Sag Harbor American Music Festival, set for Sept. 24 through 27. Featuring free outdoor shows across at least a dozen locations, including three main stages, the festival features one ticketed concert at Bay Street Theater featuring Grammy-nominated jazz soul troubadour Raul Midón beginning at 8 p.m. Attendees can expect dozens of live concerts popping up at some of your favorite Harbor haunts all weekend long.
SouthamptonFest
Word on the street is the village-wide, fall-themed celebration centered around Agawam Park will be the first weekend of October. Historically, events have included a chowder contest, sheep shearing demonstrations, a petting zoo, the blessing of the animals, arts and crafts, games, live music and a slew of seasonal food and beverage offerings from some of the area’s most beloved restos and eateries. Stay tuned at the Southampton Chamber of Commerce website here.
The Westhampton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts a Fall Festival set for Sunday, October 11 from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m. along the hamlet’s Main Street. Entertainment is slated to include a petting zoo, bounce house and a mobile golf simulator, while local restaurants and food trucks will provide the vittles. In addition to the oodles of specialty food and craft vendors and artisans anticipated to be on hand, attendees can enjoy live music from the New York Vendettas from noon to 4 p.m. Plus the fall festival kicks off the annual sidewalk sale across Main Street, set to continue through Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
