Alive on 25, downtown Riverhead’s free summer street festival, is ready for a delayed launch tonight after a washout two weeks ago — and event organizers are hoping the weather will be more cooperative this time around.
The festival, which opens at 5 tonight, offers free live music and entertainment, street vendors and specials at downtown eateries.
Modeled after Patchogue’s Alive After Five street festival and produced in cooperation with its Patchogue counterpart, Alive on 25 debuted last summer and was an instant hit, drawing thousands of people to Main Street.
The event’s musical offerings this week include Dan Bailey Tribe, Who Art Those Guys, The Vibe, Beer Money, Mike Ryan and Friends, High Def and Nina et Cetera.
There’s more music and theater shorts this week on the arts stage at East End Arts, where the East End Fringe Festival will present theater shorts at 5, 6:15 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Musicians Mick Hargreaves (6:45 p.m.) and Rob Europe (8 p.m.) will also perform sets on the arts stage tonight.
The Suffolk Theater has Half Step, a Grateful Dead tribute band on stage tonight at 8:30. Concert tickets are $15 apiece.
There’s plenty of fun for the kids at the festival, too: life-size games including tic-tac-toe, bowling, Connect Four and checkers; a rock-climbing wall, Bubble Palooza and paint ball.
Classic cars will line up for admirers on Peconic Avenue .
Foods for every palate and pocketbook will be available at downtown restaurants, which stay open late for the festival:
Blue Duck Bakery and Cafe
Cliff’s Rendezvous
Cucina 25
Dark Horse Restaurant
Digger’s Ales and Eats
Jerry & The Mermaid
Joe’s Garage
Mazi
PeraBell Food Bar
Shadee’s Jamaican
Sunny’s Riverhead Diner and Grill
Tweeds
More than a dozen food trucks and vendors will be selling food on the street as well — everything from cheese steaks and wings to apple puffs and ice cream.
Main Street will be closed for the festival from Griffing to Ostrander avenues beginning at 2 p.m.
Free shuttle service will be provided from the municipal parking lot on Court Street. The pickup location will be on the south side of the lot. The shuttle will drop visitors off on Griffing Avenue and Main Street.
Handicap parking will be available on Heidi Behr Way behind the former Swezey’s Department Store building and Joe’s Garage and also in the First Street parking lot near walkway adjacent to the First Congregational Church.
The National Weather Service says there’s a chance of showers — and possibly a thunderstorm — this afternoon.
The street festival is scheduled to continue Aug. 10, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.
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