Perfect weather is forecast for tonight’s Alive on 25 street festival downtown

Third time’s the charm and today’s weather forecast for the third edition of the Alive on 25 street festival in downtown Riverhead is no exception.

Unlike the first two Alive on 25 dates, there’s no rain in the forecast today. The season debut got rained out and rain threatened — but never arrived — the second date two weeks ago.

But it’s all clear skies and sunshine today, with temperatures in the low 70s (see the hourly forecast) and the organizers of Alive on 25 are ready for the biggest crowds of the season.

The festival opens at 5 tonight and runs through 9:30, offering 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.

Tonight’s event will feature seven bands in various locations downtown:

Butterfly Cody Experience at Cliff’s Rendevous
The Bogs at Crooked Ladder/Digger’s Ales n’ Eats
Ninjas Need Money at One For The Road Event Services/Seaside Grill
Boom Shot @ Long Ireland Brewery
Mike Ryan & Friends at Dark Horse Restaurant/Tweeds Restaurant
Steve Strecker Band at PeraBell Food Bar
Larrin Gerard at Moustache Brewing Co.

In addition, on the Arts Stage at East End Arts:

5:00 East End Songwriters
5:45 Chip Williford Poetry
6:00 East End Songwriters
6:45 Hope Brindel Poetry
7:00 Claire Raby Music
7:45 Steven Kramer Poetry
8:00 Points East

A Beatles tribute band, Long Live the Beatles is live on stage at the Suffolk Theater at 8:30 p.m. (Admission is $15)

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 between Griffing and Ostrander avenues will be closed to traffic from 2 to 11 p.m. today. A portion of Peconic Avenue and Roanoke Avenue between Second and Main streets will also be closed.

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 is located off Heidi Behr Way behind old Swezey’s and Joe’s Garage and in the First Street parking lot near the walkway next to the First Congregational Church.

Alive on 25 will be back Aug. 24, with the final event of the season on Aug. 31