Mattituck - July's record high temperatures helped fuel the solar-powered stage in Mattituck on July 24 and July 25, for the second annual East End Green Fest helmed by Syd and Deborah Dufton and their family of volunteers. Spanning the weekend, over a dozen performers took the stage as vendors from all over the New York Metro area expounded on the merits of solar energy, recycling, and going 'local.'

Lisa Brigantino.

As with any East End festival craft vendors arrived early to display their wares, at this gathering however, there was a decidedly green twist with many more handmade items ranging from soaps and local honey to metal jewelry and organic clothing. Focusing on energy, representatives from Alternative Energy Systems and the Long Island Green Power Alliance were on hand to answer questions about green audits as well as solar and geothermal energy options.

Local foods were a centerpiece of the festival with Greenport Brewing Company and Lieb Cellars offering tastings alongside Honest Tea and Rolling In Dough pizza near the stage where Caroline Doctrow and Lisa Brigantino performed and hula hoop and poi dancers kept the audience moving. Award-winning singer and North Fork local Brady Rymer was out for the day to cheer on the musicians and remarked that the festival was a "wonderful surprise" and "great for the East End."

The entry fee was minimal, only $3 for adults with kids under 12 free, and the first 200 visitors each day received a free Green Fest tee-shirt or Hamptons.com logo shopping bag with a donation of a non-perishable food item to benefit C.A.S.T.