Polish Town Fair

An unexpected storm today wreaked havoc in Riverhead with heavy rains that flooded area roadways and brought the Polish Town street fair to a standstill just as it was about to get underway.

The Polish Town Fair kicks off for its 42nd year tomorrow morning with a street festival packed with vendors, food and a full schedule of events celebrating the community's Polish heritage.

The sun was shining, the sounds of laughter and polka music filled the air and the crowds that flocked to Polish Town in Riverhead on this warm summer Saturday took in the sights, sounds and aromas of the 41st annual Polish Street Fair and Festival.

Now in its 41st year, the largest Polish festival this side of Warsaw transforms Riverhead's Polish Town into a giant open-air market, with vendors, Polish delicacies, Polish beer, Polka music, Polish dancers, carnival rides and games and plenty of fun for the whole family.

Riverhead’s beer garden idea turns out to be short-lived. The Riverhead Town Board today backed off plans aired at last week’s work session to restrict the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at street fairs and festivals.

A move by the town to restrict the consumption of alcohol at street fairs and festivals has some downtown merchants seeing red — and the...