Southampton Septemberfest 2014 Brings Fall Fun Starting Friday

The fourth annual Southampton Septemberfest, a celebration of all things fall, will be held this weekend, September 26-28.

The three-day festival is held throughout the village, with the majority of activities taking place in Agawam Park and on the grounds of the Southampton Arts Center on Jobs Lane.

The weekend of events kicks off on Friday night with a cocktail party in Agawam Park. The evening will feature wine and craft beer, along with samplings from local food trucks, including Paul’s Italian Restaurant, The Inn Spot and Aunt Dorine’s Clam Bar. Beau Hulse and New Life Crisis will both perform. Proceeds from the event benefit the Southampton Rotary Club’s scholarship and endowment fund. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door.

Saturday brings the main events, with a full schedule of fall fun throughout the village.

New this year is the Agawam Ferry dedication, which will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The ceremony will be followed by complimentary rides aboard the Pyrrhus Concer, a ferry honoring the freedman and Southampton resident who ran boat rides across Lake Agawam during the mid-19th century.

The popular chowder contest, with samplings of local New England and Manhattan styles, will be held in Agawam Park from noon to 2 p.m. Maniac Pumpkin Carvers will be in the village between noon and 5 p.m., replicating scenes and characters from The Wizard of Oz in their signature style.

Kids can also enjoy the strolling Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performers, as well as juggling, beatbox and comedy from Jester Jim at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the Southampton Arts Center grounds. Also at noon, the Southampton Arts Center opens its gallery doors to show the work of multimedia artist Beatrice Coron. The opening reception with the artist will be held from 5–7 p.m.

Music will be playing at various places along the village streets, featuring the stylings of Eastbound Freight, Mick Hargreaves, Cassandra House, Trouble & Salerno and Jim Turner.

Multiple events, like the farmers market at the Southampton Arts Center grounds, art vendors in the park, Taste of the East End and concerts in the park will be held on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s concerts in the park will feature The Next Level Band, Inda Eaton and Caroline Doctorow & The Steamrollers. Stay easy like a Sunday morning with the smooth jazz and R&B of Charles Certain and Certain Moves.

Septemberfest is also held in conjunction with the Harvest Day Fair at the Southampton Historical Museum on Meeting House Lane. The fair celebrates 19th century Southampton life. The events include hands-on crafts demonstrations and a reenactment of Civil War soldiers making camp. At 3 p.m., the museum will celebrate the 1850 marriage of whaling captain George White and Elizabeth Fordham with a reenactment by Our Fabulous Variety Show. Captain White found wealth in the California Gold Rush of 1849, after which he returned home to marry Fordham. The re-enactment begins with the bride getting ready, and takes revelers through the ceremony, reception and the throwing of the bouquet. The Harvest Day Fair will be held on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

Also during the weekend, get footloose at Dans’ing, presented by Dan’s Papers. The Saturday evening event invites people of all ages to get their groove on at Southampton Arts Center. The event, which begins at 7 p.m., benefits Dancing Dreams, a nonprofit organization that gives children with physical challenges a chance to dance. Professional instructors will be on hand to teach master classes in swing, hip hop and Latin between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required, so email dansevents@danspapers.com to secure your spot.

For more information on Southampton Septemberfest and the full schedule of events, visit southamptonseptfest.org.