Southampton - The Village of Southampton announced that the first annual Southampton SeptemberFest will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011. A full day of fun and exciting events happening throughout the Village will remind visitors that Southampton is a great year round destination. Mayor Mark Epley said, "SeptemberFest will showcase the best of Southampton's longstanding heritage of art, music, history and food during one of the nicest times of the year." Many of the events will be offered free to the public.

Come and enjoy SeptemberFest. (Courtesy Photo: Southampton Historical Museum)

SeptemberFest will be a full day of activities for families throughout the village showcasing the best of Southampton's longstanding heritage of art, music and food.
SeptemberFest will bring the village to life with music and entertainment on every corner. The Maniac Pumpkin Carvers will take over the steps of Village Hall with pumpkin carving demonstrations. Specializing in logos, portraits, and all manner of monsters these childhood friends will amaze and entertain. Children will also have a chance to create their own pumpkins.

On the grounds of the Southampton Historical Museum families can dance with the Shinnecocks on the lawn as they demonstrate traditional and contemporary Native American dancing. The 9th Virginia Company C will provide a civil war encampment with musket firing and drill demonstrations. Throughout the day children can participate in old-fashioned games, work alongside artisans in the carpenter shop or take a chance on the "guess the weight of the pumpkin" contest. Silhouette artist, Deborah O'Connor will be available for silhouette cutting.

On the grounds of the Parrish Art Museum, Jester Jim will perform his amazing juggling and beatbox show for the younger set. Face painting, a farmers market and music by Charles Certain and Ahmed Ali will round out the venue. The Southampton Cultural Center will present weekend performances of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" along with a Juried Art Show at the Levitas Center. On Main Street people can enjoy Jim Turner on harmonica along with Nick Kerzner as well.

Events at Lake Agawam will combine music and food beginning with a clam chowder contest in the afternoon, with the winner claiming bragging rights to "The Best Chowder of the Hamptons" and a trophy awarded by Mayor Mark Epley. Local restaurants will serve up their specialties on the lawn as "American Idol" contestant Leah Laurenti performs. Later in day New Life Crisis will take the stage with lead singer Paul Mahos closing out the day. Voted the No. 1 Band in the Hamptons 2010 the group recently appeared in an episode of the hit USA Show "Royal Pains."

The Southampton Cultural Center, Southampton Chamber of Commerce, the Southampton Historical Museum, Rogers Memorial Library, the Parrish Art Museum and the Village of Southampton formed the SeptemberFest Committee, which has been meeting for months to plan the events to increase tourism in the Village during the fall season and highlight the traditions and heritage of Southampton.

Harvest Day is a celebration of 19th century life with demonstrations. (Courtesy Photo: Southampton Historical Museum)

SeptemberFest is a shared vision that leverages the collective resources of the Village's cultural institutions to increase tourism in the Village during the fall season, when the bustle of summertime commerce subsides. The Southampton Cultural Center, Southampton Chamber of Commerce, the Southampton Historical Museum, Rogers Memorial Library, the Parrish Art Museum and the Village of Southampton formed the SeptemberFest Committee, which has been meeting for months to plan the events.

The idea of Southampton SeptemberFest is built on the long-standing traditions of the East End and is an expanded concept of the Harvest Day Fair held at the Southampton Historical Museum where costumed tradesmen demonstrating blacksmithing, quilting and basketry along with wagon rides, the Shinnecock dancers and the Civil War Militia all share the story of Southampton. In addition to museum's traditional activities Southampton SeptemberFest will include a Clam Chowder Contest, a concert in the park starring rockers "New Life Crisis," a live performance of Steinbeck's "Of Mice And Men," the "Maniac Pumpkin Carvers" on the steps of village hall and many more activities scattered throughout the village.

While local sponsors have stepped up more are needed to make Southampton SeptemberFest a huge success. Mayor Epley stated, "We have all the ingredients in place for an amazing local event. Now we want to promote it, attract a nice crowd and put Southampton SeptemberFest on the map." He added, "SeptemberFest will be a fun time for the community but it will also increase foot traffic and provide marketing opportunities for businesses."


There are several ways for sponsors to participate says Karen Connolly, Executive Director, Southampton Chamber of Commerce. "We've created opportunities for the smallest merchant to the largest brand to get involved. Sponsors not only support a great, local event like Southampton SeptemberFest they help promote their own businesses or organizations too."

SeptemberFest is one of several ongoing initiatives spearheaded by the Village of Southampton following the adoption of its Vision Plan for the Village Center. Among the goals of the Vision Plan is creation of an Arts District that will serve as a driver of year-round commerce for the local business community. SeptemberFest has been funded, in part, by Suffolk County under the auspices of The Office of Cultural Affairs, Steve Levy, County Executive.

The ninth annual Harvest Day Fair will be held on Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Southampton Historical Museum, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton. Admission is free. A rain date has been set for Sunday, September 25.

Harvest Day is a celebration of 19th century life with demonstrations of 19th century artisans such as basket makers, rug hookers and bookmakers to name a few. Children can work alongside each artisan as they demonstrate their craft. The Museum's street of shops which includes the Blacksmith Shop, the Carpenter Shop, The Bayman Shed, the Hildreth's store and the Fordham and Elliston Paint Shop, along with the one-room Schoolhouse will all be open. Families can join in on a contra dance in the Nugent Barn or dance with Shinnecocks on the lawn as they demonstrate traditional and contemporary Native American dancing.

On the lawn the 9th Virginia Company C will provide civil war encampments with musket firing and drill demonstrations. Throughout the day children can participate in old-fashioned games, help make hand-turned vanilla ice cream or take a chance on the "guess the weight of the pumpkin" contest. Returning will be the sheep, llamas, alpacas and shearing demonstrations by Tabbethia Haubold of Long Island Livestock.

This year a silhouette artist has been added to the line-up. Working with children, adults and even pets, silhouettes are mounted on white or ivory archival quality cardstock. Mattes, extra copies for gift giving and frames will also be available. Silhouettes can also be made from photographs. Also new this year will be a group of select artisan vendors selling handcrafted items.

For more information or to book an appointment with the silhouette artist, call 631-283-2494.