Picture this: Hundreds of artfully carved pumpkins lit up in a magical display across the grounds of East End Arts in downtown Riverhead.
That’s the vision of Diane Tucci, the new executive director of the Riverhead Business Improvement District, for a new and exciting lighted pumpkin display that will accompany this year’s Halloween Fest downtown.
Participants are encouraged to bring their carved pumpkins to Halloween Fest, October 29, so they can be part of a massive display on the East End Arts property.
Prizes will be awarded for categories like the most creative, funniest and scariest pumpkins. There will also be age categories for children to enter, as well as a “painted pumpkin patch” inside the farmer’s market building for the younger kids.
“I would love to see this become a super competitive thing – to have families and groups of friends make the best pumpkins they possibly can,” Tucci said.
Riverhead BID will provide battery-operated candles to illuminate the carved pumpkins, creating a twinkling sea of pumpkins that will line a path through property.
“The only thing like this on Long Island is at Old Westbury Gardens, and that’s all the way in Nassau County,” Tucci said. “I think this will be a really awesome, community-oriented event.”
The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns in Westbury draws thousands of people each year to its display. Tucci hopes a similar event in Riverhead will encourage people to come downtown and enjoy the Halloween festival as well.
Participants will be able to collect their pumpkins after the event is finished to bring them home for Halloween.
This year’s Halloween Fest comes on the heels of two years of Edgar Allen Poe Festivals, a weekend-long event that celebrated the works of Edgar Allen Poe and all things spooky. Though the Edgar Allen Poe festival was canceled this year, the Riverhead BID has been working hard to create its own festival on the Saturday of Halloween weekend.
Halloween Fest will bring back some of the Poe Festival’s most popular events – such as the Halloween parade, performances by costumed characters and a downtown trick-or-treating event – as well as some new ones, like the jack o’lantern display.
Downtown restaurants will be providing food and drink specials all night long. The Vail Leavitt Theater will be showing some spooky, family-friendly short films before the parade, and then another family-friendly feature-length film afterward.
A masquerade ball will be held at Long Island Aquarium after the parade, along with an interactive showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Suffolk Theater. There will also be a costume contest at Joe’s Garage and Grill.
“We’re getting more and more businesses involved every day,” Tucci said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun this year.”
Riverhead BID is still seeking volunteers and parade participants for the event. Anyone interested should contact Diane Tucci at halloweenfestriverhead@gmail.com.
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