Fall Festival Arrives At Herrick Park In East Hampton On Saturday

Wind whistling through leaves, warm crackling wood stoves, caramel apples, and candles flickering through jack-o-lanterns—autumn has officially arrived.

And as the leaves continue to change from lively green to shades of orange and yellow, and the air becomes brisk and refreshing, the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Fall Festival will be held in Herrick Park on Newtown Lane on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Before last year’s East Hampton spring celebration, the village hadn’t hosted a street fair in nearly 300 years. With success from the previous festivals, the Chamber of Commerce and East Hampton Village plan to continue the free, family-friendly fairs.

“It’s going to be such a great day—the festival has expanded and grown to be such a fun family and community event,” Steve Ringel, executive director of the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce, said on Monday.

This year’s festivities will include more than 50 booths with local artists, shopkeepers, crafts and food. Guests can dance and listen to live music ranging from bluegrass to blues throughout the day. Performers include the HooDoo Loungers, the East Hampton Bluegrass All Stars, Steven Tekulsky’s the Judge and the Jury Americana Experience, and the East Hampton High School Jazz Band.

“We have a huge pumpkin patch being organized … in the gazebo will be a pumpkin-decorating station including stencils, paints and goggly-eyeballs,” Mr. Ringel added. Pumpkin carving won’t be taking place, as the chamber decided that knives and carving tools are too dangerous for children.

The YMCA East Hampton RECenter will sponsor a jumping castle, climbing wall and obstacle course. Arts and crafts projects sponsored by the Children’s Museum of the East End will take be set up in the gazebo. The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center will hold a costume parade for kids and parents at noon.

The Art Nanny will help kids of all ages do art projects, and the playground at Herrick Park will be open all day. In addition, there will be a live mural painting in which anyone can participate.

“The fire department is bringing three antique fire trucks,” Mr. Ringel said, which kids will be able to take pictures of and play on. A jet ski and an antique sailboat will also be at the fair.

David and Jeanie Stiles are well know locally for building children’s tree houses and play areas. “They’ve recently joined the chamber, and they’re building an entire structure, a whole castle for kids to play and take pictures in,” Mr. Ringel said. Mr. and Ms. Stiles will be building a “Magical Tree House” in Herrick Park for children to play on and explore, including rope ladders and entryways, with all materials supplied by Riverhead Building Supply.

“This is the second year we’re allowed to have food in the park,” Mr. Ringel added. Lobster rolls from Buoy One, wood-fired pizza from Around the Fire, hand-made pretzels from Knot of this World, and Noah’s on the Road are some of the food vendors slated for Saturday. The Kona Ice Truck and Mr. Softee will serve desserts and village eateries will be open all day and offering specials through the New York State Craft Beverages Program.

Twenty nonprofit organizations will be represented, including by the Guild Hall Gift Shop, the Hamptons International Film Festival’s “garage sale” featuring collectible movie posters and other merchandise, the East Hampton Historical Society and the Ladies Village Improvement Society.

Mr. Ringel added that there will be local food vendors as well, including a woman who makes organic cheese and lemonade, and the East Hampton High School Jazz band will serve up hot and fresh donuts.

“The Fall Festival was very successful last year,” he said. “A lot of people said they’ve never spent so much time in Herrick Park.”

Parking will be available in the long-term lots behind the park, behind the middle school, and in the elementary school lot, Mr. Ringel said.

“It’s a true community event to celebrate fall as well as to showcase our wonderful businesses and organizations,” he continued. “I’m excited and honored to help create community in our village.”