The Town of Riverhead is joining forces with the Riverhead Business Improvement District to host the inaugural Edgar Allan Poe Festival, Long Island's Largest Halloween Spook-tacular. From Friday, October 31st through Sunday, November 2nd, the streets of Main Street in Downtown Riverhead will be filled with a ghostly collection of "things that go bump in the night."
"People have asked me why I chose to name the event after Poe: simply because his name immediately conjures visions in the mind that are both macabre and horrifying," said Sal St. George, Festival Creative Director. "His literary reputation will entice an audience to attend the event."
During the spooky weekend, keep your eye out for street performers portraying Mr. Poe, and several of his notorious literary characters including Lenore, Roderick Usher, Prince Prospero, Annabelle Lee, and C. Auguste Dupin. While named after "The Raven" author, the Festival will also feature aspects of Washington Irving, O. Henry, Mary Shelley, Bram
Stoker and other notable creators from the mystery and Gothic genre. So, don't be surprised when you spot a few special guests from "Sleepy Hollow" like Ichabod Crane or the Headless Horseman.
Festival attendees can also seek out spook shows, macabre music, fiendish foods, haunted houses, and other ghoulish happenings. An Edgar Allan Poe Exhibit will be on display at the Suffolk County Historical Society (300 West Main Street, Riverhead, 631-727-2881
suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org) from Friday, October 10th through Saturday, November 1st. The show will culminate with a Tales of Terror Readings on Saturday, November 1st from 12 to 3:30 p.m. If you're too old to trick or treat, the Festival is celebrating the eve of All Saints' Day with live music from NYX at Joe's Garage (40 Peconic Avenue, Riverhead, 631-654-1888,
joesgarageandgrill.com) on Friday, October 31st at 8:30 p.m. Revel in a double dose of Halloween festivities during the Monster Mash at Joe's Garage on Saturday, November 1st beginning at 9 p.m. The evening will feature a costume contest and Joe's Deadly DJ. Other community gatherings will include a Bats, Barnacles & Broomsticks Halloween party on November 1st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and an Eat, Drink & Be Scary Brunch on Sunday, November 2nd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
East End Arts (133 East Main Street, Riverhead, 631-727-0900,
www.eastendarts.org) will hold a Family Pumpkin Carving Workshop on Saturday, November 1st from 1 to 3 p.m. Pumpkins, carving tools, stencils, and templates will be provided and an adult must supervise at all times. Entry to the workshop is $5 per family, and available by calling 631-369-2171. Following the class, participants can enter their creatively carved masterpieces in East End Arts' Carved Pumpkin Contest. The competition is open to all ages, and is not restricted to workshop participants. Edgar Allan Poe Festival attendees will judge the entries in three different categories; Most Creative, Most Scary, and Best in Show. To enter, pumpkins must be submitted from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1st. There is no fee to enter and one pumpkin per person may be submitted. Voting will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
For more information on the Edgar Allan Poe Festival, visit www.facebook.com.
Nicole is the Editor-in-Chief of Hamptons.com where she focuses on lifestyle, nightlife, and mixology. She grew up in the Hamptons and currently resides in Water Mill. 
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