A Chowder, Fire Trucks, Fireworks Weekend
The Montauk Chamber of Commerce will host its annual fall festival on Saturday and Sunday on the downtown green from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday the festivities begin with a chowder contest at 11 a.m. sharp. The contest will run until the Manhattan and New England-style chowders, donated by 28 restaurants, run out — around 1 p.m.
This year, the Montauk Fire Department will continue its 75th anniversary celebration, starting with a parade on Saturday that leaves Kirk Park at noon. An antique fire truck will lead, and fire departments from across Long Island will take part. The parade will head east and make a left turn near the Chase Bank to end up on the soccer field at Lions Field, where a muster will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Antique fire trucks from various eras will be on display.
There will be music by Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks to accompany the many activities at the festival, including a 30-horse carousel, pumpkin and face decorating, inflatable rides, beer and wine tastings, and food typical of October festivals, from grilled corn to hot dogs.
A fireworks display by Grucci will start at 7 p.m. Saturday with a tribute to the Montauk Fire Department — “MFD 75” in a show of glorious colors.
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the festival will continue with a silent auction, new this year, offering sports and entertainment memorabilia, along with a raffle under a tent hosted by the Montauk Playhouse Community Center. The raffle will offer a variety of prizes donated by local businesses: electronic equipment, art, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, motel stays, and more. Tickets, which will be sold in advance on Saturday, cost $1 each, and the prizes will be displayed with accompanying jars for tickets to be dropped in.
The 3Bs will play classic rock under a tent right up until the winning tickets are drawn at 3 p.m. Cotton candy, popcorn, and other treats will be for sale.
The Hampton Jitney is offering free rides to and from the hamlet from Southampton and every stop in between. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Jitney office at 283-4600. Also, a shuttle bus will be running continuously through the hamlet, starting in the downtown area, heading east to the Montauk Lighthouse, and then back to the harbor area, the Long Island Rail Road Station, and the green.