Get your lederhosen ready, Oktoberfest is coming to Riverhead.
The Riverhead Business Improvement District, which organizes a series of popular events each year — including Alive on 25 and the Cardboard Boat Race — is planning on hosting a downtown Oktoberfest later this year.
The event was conceived by Bryan DeLuca of the East End Tourism alliance, which received a grant to organize events in all five East End towns.
The BID is planning to have Oktoberfest in Grangebel Park to coincide with “Art in the Park: Reflextions.” The BID will also work with local restaurants and breweries to provide food and beer.
While the BID’s calendar awaits approval, Oktoberfest is planned for Sept. 12-13.
One noticeable change to the downtown events lineup from past years is that the number of Alive on 25 dates has been cut from four to two this summer.
“We wanted to focus on just two Alive on 25 events,” said Steve Shauger, president of the BID Management Association. “The thought process is that for the first one (July 2), we’ll do the fireworks, which is always a big one. And then the other one (Aug. 13), hopefully we have people funnel into one more event instead of spreading it out over three events.”
He said that based on feedback it has received, the BID will try to make the second Alive on 25 a more kid-friendly event.
The fireworks show is always a very popular event but attendance tends to dip at the subsequent events.
The BID has held Alive on 25 annually since 2016. It involves closing down downtown Main Street while having food vendors and live bands lining the street. It was modeled after Patchogue’s popular Alive After Five series.
TENTATIVE CALENDAR
Thursday, July 2 — Alive on 25 and fireworks
Saturday, Aug. 1 — Cardboard Boat Race
Saturday, July 18 — Reflextions: Art in the Park
Thursday, Aug. 13 — Alive on 25 and Reflextions: Art in the Park
Saturday, Sept. 12-13 — Oktoberfest and Reflextions: Art in the Park
Saturday, Oct. 24 — Halloween Fest and Reflextions: Art in the Park
Saturday, Dec. 12 — Holiday Bonfire
