The festivities kick off with a lamp post decorating contest, where the community will transform Main Street into a haunted wonderland of fall-themed decor. Visitors can vote for their favorite lamp post via QR code, with the winner taking home $250. In addition, lamp posts will honor U.S. veterans and Breast Cancer Awareness Month with colorful tributes.

New for 2024 is the news that Riverhead’s much-loved “coffin races” are moving to Main Street this year. Ghoulies (ages 5-12) and Zombies (12-plus) will compete in custom-made coffins-on-wheels for a chance to win $500 cash prizes. DJ entertainment, family fun zones, and performances by local bands will run throughout the afternoon.

Trick-or-treating along Main Street will run from 3 to 5 p.m., and the lively Goblin Parade at 6 p.m., featuring local performers and dance groups, including a special performance of “Thriller” by the Peconic Ballet Theater.

“Halloween Fest is Riverhead’s most engaging event. It’s wonderful to see people of all ages, abilities, and cultures smiling on Main Street,” said Ms. Verity in a press release.

“Last year, the parade saw its biggest crowd to date, and the people’s choice contest for lamp post decor and parade floats were a hit. We’re excited to bring the coffin race to Main Street and have all the festivities in one zone; this move will also allow downtown businesses to watch the Zombies and Ghoulies compete. Halloween Fest evolves year after year and is my favorite BID event, thanks to the Riverhead community and our visitors.”

The rain date for the Halloween Fest is Oct. 26.

The post Wicked fun awaits at Riverhead’s Halloween Fest 2024 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A large portion of the initiative will be aimed at enhancing Reflextions: Art in the Park, a long-running series of installations sponsored by the Riverhead Business Improvement District and funding from state and county revitalization grants.

“I’m glad this is getting done. It will be a tremendous asset to our town as we become more artsy and cultural,” said Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard. “The more we can do for local art, the better. It will help transform our image and that’s the direction we’re heading in.” Mr. Hubbard added that the project will attract more visitors and help make downtown a more family friendly destination.

Grangebel Park, which already features illuminated sculptures of an octopus, a submarine and a boat, will welcome three new pieces in the next few years. And the shipping container on the south side of the park, which right now is painted with angel wings, will be refreshed with a mural of a native bird, either an eagle or osprey.

“What we’re doing will create an artisan feel for Downtown Riverhead,” said Bryan DeLuca, director of operations at the Long Island Aquarium and president of East End Tourism Alliance. “We’re providing free public art.” Mr. DeLuca and two other artists are collaborating with engineering students at Stony Brook University to craft a giant mobile made of stainless steel and Plexiglas. It will be placed on the north end of Grangebel Park. 

Artist Clayton Orehek is currently working on two intersecting arcs, 10 feet in diameter and constructed with aluminum and acrylic. “We hope to have that done by this July,” he said. His time is also being spent on a unique piece that will be placed over the park’s bridge. “We’re positioning it high over the walkway, keeping in mind that the river is right there and sometimes it floods.”

Led by executive director Kristy Verity, Riverhead BID is focused on growing downtown Riverhead’s art and cultural scene, with more projects in the works that will not only complement Reflextions, but also leverage imaginative lighting to illuminate dim areas and improve safety and walkability. That idea inspired the BID to install snowflakes and lights on Main Street lamp posts, on display until spring. 

Walking through the tattered red-brick pathway between the Vibes Ink tattoo parlor and Nanci’s Beauty Salon on Main Street, Mr. Orehek provided a preview of what’s to come. “Kristy and I are working on a design that reflects the Peconic landscape and lights up as people walk through,” he said. The hope is that the artwork will also discourage graffiti in the passageway. 

Environmental artist and educator Tony Valderamma has been tapped to incorporate components from the local ecosystem into works focused on teaching people about the plants and animals that inhabit the Peconic landscape, and the impact humans have on the environment. 

The timeline, according to Ms. Verity, is to put the new sculptures for Grangebel Park and pathway project at the top of the list followed by the two new murals as well as refurbishing existing structures like bike racks and trash receptacles. “These initiatives have been in the development phase for years,” Ms. Verity said. “Much of our work is done behind the scenes. We’re incredibly excited to bring our visions to life and deliver accomplishments that the community can see.”

The goal is to extend Reflextions along the Peconic River waterfront to town square, she said. 

“We’re thinking big picture, capitalizing on the beautiful riverwalk, an anchor of downtown,” Ms. Verity said. “It’s all about building community pride. We want people to see and love downtown Riverhead as much as we do.” 

The post Downtown ‘Reflextions’ arts initiative gains steam appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Ms. Verity discussed the BID’s plans for other changes as well at last Thursday’s Riverhead Town Board work session. 

In 2017, the coffin races’ first year, the event was moved from Griffing Avenue to Heidi Behr Way, along the riverfront, due to heavy rain the previous day. Subsequent races ran on Griffing Avenue, along the Supreme Court, where spectators can sit on the steps. 

Now, Ms. Verity told board members, the BID would like to move the races to East Main Street. 

“It was great on Griffing , because we have the courthouse steps, but it presents a lot of challenges,” she explained, noting that people who attend the coffin races could miss out on the start of trick-or-treating on Main Street.

Last year was the first time Main Street was closed to traffic to allow trick or treating, and the BID hopes to continue that. 

Ms. Verity said they are proposing to move the coffin races to East Main Street, starting in front of Star Confectionery and moving east.

The police department wants to leave Peconic Avenue and Roanoke Avenue open, while having a traffic control officer help people cross the street, Ms. Verity said. 

“It would be nice to keep everyone in one place,” she said. 

“We just have to be mindful because they have been doing a lot of construction on Main Street,” Supervisor Tim Hubbard said. “That road is pretty choppy right now, although they are going to repave it.”

Still, Mr. Hubbard said, he likes the new location. 

“It makes all the sense in the world,” he said. “That way, one [event] can flow right into the next and nobody is missing out anything.”

Among other BID event changes Ms. Verity discussed, there will be two “Alive on 25” events downtown this year instead of four, as in previous years. The first will take place July 5, and will include a fireworks show. That event has always between very popular, and usually fills downtown. The second “Alive on 25” will be Aug. 9 — without fireworks. 

“I like the fact that ‘Alive on 25’ has been brought down to two dates,” Mr. Hubbard said. “I think you’re going have two really hugely attended programs doing it that way. Before, it kind of watered it down. I think you’re going to see that each of these will be like the fireworks show.” 

Ms. Verity said that having the four events was a drain on the town’s resources. She said this allows the BID to work with other events being held downtown. 

The other big change she presented called for changing the annual holiday bonfire from one large pit to multiple smaller pits that can be placed in locations like the Town Square or East End Arts Council. 

Other BID events proposed for 2024 include the cardboard boat race, co-hosted with the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce. This year’s date will be Aug. 3, with a rain date of Aug. 17.

Also scheduled are the Oktoberfest on Oct. 5; the Halloween Festival — including the coffin races, trick-or-treating and a parade — on Oct. 19; four “Art in the Park” events in Grangebel Park; and a Holiday Parade and Santa House on Dec. 14 on Main Street and along the riverfront. 

Officials said it’s not clear how far along work on the downtown Town Square will be by the time some of the events are scheduled.

Councilwoman Joann Waski noted that the Aug. 17 rain date proposed for the cardboard boat race is the same date as the recently-approved Polish Town Fair and Festival.

Ms. Verity said the police have been given the dates for both events to determine if there is a conflict. 

The post Riverhead BID unveils plans for 2024 events appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The BIDMA will continue to hold its popular “Alive on 25” events on Fridays — a change from Thursdays — that was first made last year. 

Alive on 25 shuts down Main Street for a street fair with live music on several stages, food, games, vendors and other pop-ups including classic car shows.

“People are happy with the switch to Fridays,” Councilman Tim Hubbard said, noting that the Friday event is popular because many people are off on Saturday.

The first of four planned Alive on 25 events will also feature fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July. 

That event is usually extremely popular, according to Kristy Verity, the executive director of the BIDMA, who said subsequent Alive on Five events toward the end of summer draw smaller turnouts. 

The scheduled dates for Alive on 25 are June 30, July 14, July 28, and Aug. 11. A rain date is also planned for Aug. 18.

Several other events are planned for the downtown area this year.

• The BID lineup calls for Reflexions: Art in the Park, cohosted with the East End Tourism Alliance, to take place at Grangebel Park on Saturday, June 17; Friday, July 21; Saturday, Aug. 19; and Saturday, Sept. 30 in conjunction with an Oktoberfest celebration.  

• The Cardboard Boat Race, co-hosted with the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5.

• The popular Halloween Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, with a rain date of Oct. 28. Mr. Hubbard said he was “shocked” at how many people attended the Halloween Fest, which kicks off with Coffin Races on Griffing Ave. and also features trick-or-treating and a costume parade down Main Street.

• The final event is the annual Holiday Parade and Bonfire co-hosted with the Riverhead Lion’s Club on the riverfront on Saturday, Dec. 9.

The post Riverhead BID unveils packed lineup of events planned for this year, from Alive on 25 to holiday bonfire appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Mr. Shauger, general manager of the Hyatt Place East End, is president of the BIDMA, a position he’s held since July 2016, after serving on the board since 2013. 

Ms. Verity is BIDMA’s executive director, a position she’s held since July 2019. Her background is in marketing, public relations and event planning. 

“Excellent choices,” said Councilman Tim Hubbard, who is the Town Board liaison to the BIDMA. “Those two single handedly put together the Alive on 25 concerts,” adding “It’s a massive undertaking every year and they are always hands on with everything they do.”

Mr. Hubbard said the events bring visitors to downtown Riverhead who might then come back to explore the town further.

“The businesses all feel that anything that can generate people in the downtown area is a great thing,” said Connie Lassandro, president of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce. “All the events they’ve had bring a lot of camaraderie and community spirit to the area. It’s something that’s welcomed by the businesses and by the community at large.”

The chamber has actually taken over running the Cardboard Boat Race, although Mr. Shauger and Ms. Verity still help out, Ms. Lassandro said. 

“They are very compassionate about the town,” she added.

The Business Improvement District is a taxing entity that represents businesses in downtown Riverhead, and consists essentially the Riverhead Town Board members. The district’s management association — BIDMA— is appointed by the Town Board to run the day-to-day activities of the BID. 

Events produced by the BIDMA include Alive on 25, which is easily its most popular and takes place four times each summer, including a fireworks show in July.

More recently added events include an “Oktoberfest” that features beer, food and live music and the Halloween Fest, which begins with coffin races in the afternoon, and concludes with a Halloween Parade at night.

Previous Winners

2021: Dawn Thomas
2019: Allen Smith
2018: Dashan Briggs
2017: Richard Ligon
2016: Tom Lateulere
2015: Susan Wilk
2014: Carl James
2013: Dennis Cavanagh
2012: Ed Romaine
2011: George Woodson
2010: Robert Brown
2009: Barbara Grattan
2008: Liz Stokes
2007: Michael Reichel
2006: Gary Pendzick
2005: The Riverhead Ambulance Corps
2004: Richard Wines
2003: Ken Testa
2002: “KeySpan Coalition”
2001: Ed Densieski
2000: Judge Richard Ehlers
1999: Barbara Blass
1998: Vicki Staciwo
1997: Lenard Makowski
1996: Buildings & Grounds
1995: Jack Hansen
1994: Jim Stark
1993: Rick Hanley
1992: Lawyer Jackson
1991: Andrea Lohneiss
1990: Monique Gablenz
1989: George Bartunek
1988: Patricia Tormey

Editor’s Note: There was no Public Servant of the year named in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post 2022 Public Servants of the Year: Steve Shauger & Kristy Verity appeared first on Riverhead News Review.