Southamptonfest is back in its 12th year, drawing attendees from the tri-state area for a weekend of art, fashion, farmers market, music and other live entertainment, arts and crafts, children’s games and activities, hay rides, sidewalk sales, pumpkins, and the popular Chowder Contest — plus a whole lot more.
The weekend begins with a high-energy kickoff party at the Southampton Cultural Center, sponsored by the Southampton Rotary Club, on Friday, October 4. It’s become a beloved Village tradition as old and new friends gather for live music, dancing, libations, and nibbles with complimentary beer and wine from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, followed by a cash bar until 9:30 PM. The evening carries on the work of the Rotary Club, whose dedicated members have been coming together to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill in the community since 1946. Tickets can be pre-purchased for $35 or at the door the evening of for $45.
Saturday, October 5, is an all-day event with happenings throughout the Village. Bands such as Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks, Charles Certain, and Next Level will perform in Agawam Park, along with the popular Chowder Contest featuring entries from local restaurants and food trucks offering delightful dishes. The Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation Dance Troupe will also perform a special dance that is not to be missed. The Rogers Memorial Library will bring the library to the community and distribute free books (for adults, teens, and children), giveaways (frisbees, small toys), and answer questions about library services and collections. They will also offer outdoor games and more.
Heart of the Hamptons will provide a children’s scavenger hunt throughout the Village and hay rides will be offered in Agawam park. Southampton Animal Shelter will bring its pet mobile to find your next furry companion, and the Presbyterian Church will conduct tours of the historic house of worship and hold a bake sale. The Hampton Flea & Vintage will curate one-of-a-kind treasures and provide a market fair where you can shop and take home unique finds.
The Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance Association will display its new ambulances with interactive opportunities for kids, and the Southampton Village Fire Department will provide its hook and ladder truck with sky-high opportunities to go up the ladder, as well as giveaways for kids and information for all. The Smokehouse and antique fire trucks will be displayed at the Windmill Lane firehouse. Across the street, Shippy’s will celebrate in true Oktoberfest fashion in their Biergarten, where you can anticipate plenty of fun. The Southampton Inn will provide pumpkins for carving, s’mores for toasting, and fire pits for warming up in the late afternoon.
Learn about the North Sea Maritime Center through its interactive exhibit of live oysters, or stop and have “Coffee with A Cop” and ask your local officer any question you’d like. An Art + Design Walk presented by the Peter Marino Art Foundation will take participants inside local galleries and design houses, where they get their cards marked at each stop and enter to win a Peter Marino Art Foundation Catalogue book signed by Peter Marino. Additionally, the Peter Marino Art Foundation will be open from noon to 5 PM for self-guided tours. General admission will be $10 at the door, and students aged 10 to 18 are free.
The Southampton History Museum’s Pelletreau Silver Shop (part of the Art + Design Walk) will also open its doors to guests for a jewelry-making workshop and stories of silversmithing in old Southampton. The Southampton Cultural Center will present an exhibit called “D.A.M.,” featuring photography by three talented locals, including Southampton Village’s Fire Marshal Dean McNamara. Expect a photo-worthy backdrop on the steps of the Southampton Arts Center and some surprises as well.
At Agawam Park, Mayor Bill Manger will briefly talk about the importance of the World War I Memorial, a jewel of the Village. This historically significant monument was built in 1923 by Donnelly and Corrigan (the same builders as the original Village Hall) and designed by Architect William Edgar Moran. On the walls are carved the names of the Southampton men and boys who served their country. Visitors can see Lake Agawam through its open colonnade and the dunes and ocean in the distance. The Village is committed to providing a long-term solution to restoring the monument to its original condition. Proceeds from Southamptonfest will go towards this restoration. The Southampton History Museum will hold special exhibits highlighting Southampton’s role in this war, with programming including historical reenactments, interactive activities, and more.
The institutions that make Southampton Village so special are participating with curated programming to be announced. They include the Southampton Cultural Center, the Rogers Memorial Library (in addition to the above activations, their Bookstore will be open on Saturday), the Southampton Arts Center, the Southampton Chamber of Commerce (the popular Farmers Market will be on for Saturday and Sunday), and more.
This year, the Southampton African American Museum will offer self-guided tours of the exhibit entitled “Pyrrhus Concer: An Adventure Life.” Pyrrhus Concer is one of the most important historical figures in Southampton. Through the study of his life and accomplishments, we learn so much about the past — from slavery to the history of the whaling industry to international diplomacy in the 19th century to the story of one local man’s life. The exhibit shows how close his life was to the Village of Southampton.
This year, the Shinnecock Sea Kelp Farmers join the list of vendors in the Park, and the International School of America will present an interactive showcase of hands-on digital learning activities.
Tours of the historic cemetery on North Main Street, cider, hot chocolate, and other beverage samplings, sidewalk sales, and tastings from Village shops and restaurants will occur throughout the Village. The Southampton Artists Association, a not-for-profit organization that gives professional and amateur artists living throughout the East End an opportunity to showcase their work, will be on display and for sale on Saturday and Sunday.
The rain date is Sunday, October 6. Note this schedule is subject to change. Sponsors include Peter Marino Art Foundation, Northwell Health, Southampton Association, and Lake Agawam Conservancy.