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The 11th annual SouthamptonFest will kick off on Friday, September 29, and run through Sunday, October 1, in Southampton Village, offering plenty of fun and cultural enrichment for visitors of all ages.
Rain and wind forced the cancellation of several outdoor events last weekend, most notably the San Gennaro Festival in Hampton Bays, but SouthamptonFest organizers are hopeful that the weather will hold this weekend. Midweek, there was a 50 percent chance of rain on Saturday, but the forecast called for clear skies on Sunday.
On Wednesday morning, SouthamptonFest organizer Nancy Kane said it was possible that certain outdoor and children’s activities could be moved to Sunday if the weather does not cooperate on Saturday. Those planning to attend should check the Southampton Village website for the latest updates and schedule changes.
The annual fall festival celebrates the history of Southampton Village, and shines a light on the various arts and cultural institutions and popular businesses in Southampton.
The festivities will begin on Friday night with a kickoff party at 6:30 p.m. under a tent at the Southampton Arts Center, featuring the band “Damaged Goods,” who will perform until 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 in advance, or $40 at the door, and include complimentary beer and wine from 6:30 to 8 p.m., followed by a cash bar. Several local food trucks will be parked nearby.
Saturday and Sunday will feature the festival’s annual chowder contest, live music in Agawam Park by Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks and Next Level Band, and special events and activities for children, including a performance by Jester Jim. The North Sea Maritime Center will host a “touch tank” of sea creatures — crabs, fish, clams, oysters and more — at the Southampton Arts Center, a new and exciting feature for younger attendees. A Ferris wheel and giant slide will be set up at Monument Square, as well.
Also new this year is Hampton Flea and Vintage, which will give shoppers a chance to explore goods for sale from more than 30 different vendors at Agawam Park.
The Southampton History Museum will host jewelry-making workshops at the Pelletreau Silver Shop on Main Street and Heart of the Hamptons will host a scavenger hunt throughout the village. The Southampton Ice Rink will bring a synthetic acrylic “ice” rink to Agawam Park, giving attendees a chance to take their best slap shot.
An “art and design crawl” will encourage visitors to take a look inside some of the best design shops and art galleries in the village, plus an opportunity to enter a raffle, and Topiaire Flower Shop will hold a live demonstration on creating colorful, eye-catching Thanksgiving tablescapes using fresh flowers and organic materials.
The Southampton African American Museum is inviting guests to its exhibition, “Grooming a Generation: A History of Black Barbershops & Beauty Parlors,” with an augmented reality tour celebrating the long and storied history of barbering in the African American community.
The Southampton History Museum will open its doors and grounds to guests looking for spooky delights, as “Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls” inhabit the historic rooms of the Rogers Mansion, which dates back to 1650. Ten historic outbuildings will be open and occupied with the unimaginable, including “Creatures in the Carpenter’s Shop,” “Devils in the Decoy Shed,” and “Bad Barnaby in the Blacksmith Shop.”
Also new this year will be a performance of traditional Shinnecock dances, put on by the Shinnecock Boys and Girls Club. The Peter Marino Art Foundation, a sponsor of the event, will offer general admission tickets to the foundation on Jobs Lane.
Festival attendees will also have a unique experience to get to know members of the Southampton Village Police Department, with “Coffee With a Cop,” a new feature initiated by Police Chief Suzanne Hurteau and Southampton Village Trustee Robin Brown. Main Prospect will provide coffee for that event.
For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit southamptonvillage.org.
Cailin Riley on Sep 27, 2023