2019 SouthamptonFest To Feature Chowder Contest, Art Shows, Endless Concerts, Kids Zone, Silent Disco Outdoor Dance Party, Harvest Fair, And So Much More

The 9th Annual SouthamptonFest will take over Southampton Village to offer two days and three nights of exciting happenings that revolve around art, music, history, dance, food and fun, of course. Starting Friday, September 20 through Sunday, September 22, the Modern Harvest will feature a Village-wide extravaganza that will no doubt offer something for everyone.

SouthamptonFest launches with the Southampton Rotary Club Cocktail Party on Friday at Agawam Park. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. there will be music from the Coverland Band and DJ Tony Kerr, wine and craft beer, and sumptuous bites from local food trucks. Proceeds from the soiree will support the Rotary Club’s Scholarship & Endowment Fund.

Both Saturday and Sunday are jam-packed, all day affairs. Agawam Park will be home to several concerts, including Sturdy Souls, Lynn Blue Band, Southbound and That Motown Band on Saturday and Next Level Band, Mean Machine and Nitework on Sunday.

“Lynn Blue Band loves playing at SouthamptonFest! The whole community comes together, there’s loads of great food and it’s fun for everyone in the family,” Lynn Blue shared. “Our bass player, Jim Nanos, lives in Southampton, and Dave Portocarrero and Alex Sarkis live in Hampton Bays, so their families and friends get to come hear us play.”

It will also be where the beloved Chowder Contest goes down on Saturday at 12 p.m. If chowder isn’t your thing, there will be a plethora of food vendors offering up seasonal fare. The Park will also host a myriad of community vendors, Fire and EMS safety demonstrations, community organization booths, corn hole games, the Southampton Artists Association Fine Art Vendors, circus performers, Jester Jim, face painters, a caricaturist, and more. Programming at Agawam will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

“SouthamptonFest is a wonderful outdoor event for the East End community,” Southampton Artists Association board member Paul Dempsey stated. “The whole town participates. It is a great way for the entire family to get out, walk around visit the local shops, listen to music, have a bite and enjoy some fine art. SAA members are comprised of professional and amateur artists, with several award winning artists among them.”

“Local East End artists will be participating as they showcase their oils, acrylics, mixed media, sculptures and photography. Most of the artists have individual tents, but we have a collective tent for our members that do not. They can show a few pieces on it and be represented,” Southampton Artists Association board member Danielle Leef added. SAA SouthamptonFest artists will include Rafael Bernadine, Isack Kousnsky, Danielle Leef, Pamela Morrison, Dennis Bontempo, Juan Reverberi, and Ron Esposito, as well as a Southapton Artists Members Tent.

Jobs Lane will be closed to cars on Saturday until 6 p.m. The pedestrian-only zone will feature a variety of SouthamptonFest happenings, including the Farmers Market with jewelry and craft vendors, sidewalk chalk art, concerts headlined by Liam Meaney, Certain Moves, Andrew Weiss and Friends and DJ Double S, and a special Latin Dance session with Jaime Ruiz.

Little ones will not want to miss the Saturday Kids Zone located on the grounds of Southampton Arts Center. Highlights will include The Party Pups Agility Show and cuddle time with the show’s stars, music and an interactive kids rock concert with Jim Turner, the chance to “Meet the Animals” from Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue, a bubble zone, pumpkin decorating, face painting, The Innovators Camp and art projects with The Art Nanny. On Sunday, Kids Zone happenings, as well as the Farmers Market move to Agawam Park.

Southampton Arts Center’s latest exhibition, Paint Your World – a 40-Year Retrospective of the Work of Michael Paraskevas, is debuting just in time for SouthamptonFest.

“Southampton Arts Center is thrilled to open their newest exhibition over SouthamptonFest weekend,” Amy Kirwin, Southampton Arts Center Artistic Director, shared. “Paint Your World – a 40-Year Retrospective of the Work of Michael Paraskevas opens on Friday, September 20 with a free public opening celebration on Saturday, September 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will showcase Mickey’s original art, animation drawings, cartoons, paintings and sketchbooks along with a large inflatable ‘Ferocious Beast’ from his famed Maggie and the Ferocious Beast children’s books and Nickelodeon series.”

Those that attend the opening should stick around for an additional lively gathering held right after. “The reception will then be followed by the return of the popular Silent Disco Outdoor Dance Party, produced by Quiet Events and sponsored by Simone and David Levinson,” Kirwin noted. “This outrageously fun event includes complimentary headphones for guests to tune into three channels of music spanning generations and genres spun by two DJ’s. Additionally, the Hitched Out East Air Stream Photo Booth trailer will be on site for fun party pics and drinks can be purchased on site through 230 Elm.”

As per usual, Southampton History Museum will host its yearly Harvest Day Fair. On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., stop by to step back in time to the 19th century with historical demonstrations, sheep shearing, a blacksmith, revolutionary war reenactors, tussie-mussies, a colonial camp kitchen, decoy carver display, wood carving, general store shop keeper, quill writing activity, a carpenter shop tool demonstration, one room schoolhouse teacher, colonial games for kids, basket weaver and much more.

The Festival will also include sidewalk sales and juggling, stilt walking and hula hooping by the National Circus Project.

For more information, visit southamptonfest.live.