Mattituck’s First Fridays on Love Lane series is back starting on Friday May 1 this year, and a few changes are in store for the popular event.
Sponsored by the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce, the series will run from 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month from May until October. As usual, Love Lane will be closed to car traffic, with more vendors and food trucks this year and a raised stage so that live bands can be more easily seen.
Live music is a big draw for the First Fridays event. The music lineup for 2026 includes the Bubba Jam Band in May, Audawind in June, Lil Sumpin Sumpin in July, GUNK in August, Who Are Those Guys in September, and MJT in October.
“First Fridays on Love Lane are what community is all about — families, friends and local businesses all coming together to enjoy everything the North Fork has to offer,” says Melissa Principi, the Mattituck Chamber’s vice president and an associate real estate broker for Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Cutchogue.
“It’s an incredible way to support our small businesses while creating meaningful moments right here in Mattituck,” Principi notes.
Lauren Lombardi of Lombardi’s Love Lane Market says that First Fridays “really has grown beautifully over the years. It’s wonderful to see how much the community and visitors alike look forward to it. Events like this continue to be so meaningful for our business; they bring people together, create a sense of connection, and introduce new guests to what we do, which we’re always grateful for. It’s always a fun opportunity for us to share a taste of our menu in a more casual, festive setting. I love to base the menu on what’s in season and also have a comfort food /homestyle Italian touch as well,” she says.
The event began in 2015 when Love Lane business owners decided to create a special block-party-type event where stores would stay open later than usual. In 2017, the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce took over the planning and began to raise funds to keep the event going.
Images of First Fridays from 2025. (Photos Courtesy of the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce)
Loads of local businesses and nonprofits will be in attendance, with some, but not all, located on Love Lane itself. The Friday evening festivities are a shot in the arm for local shopkeepers, as well as a chance to have some fun.
Michael Affatato, owner of the Village Cheese Shop on Love Lane, has been selling “street fondue” at First Fridays events since 2015 when he took over his shop.
“I’m amazed by [First Fridays] growth and popularity,” says Affatato. “We’ve always maintained the same low price of only $5 per bowl, as it’s more about the vibe and spirit than the earnings.”
Affatato says that he has turned the occasion into an employee appreciation event. “My staff keeps all the proceeds from the sales as they work their tails off to put this popular event together,” he notes. “The Mattituck Chamber has been key in building visibility, and we count an average of 400 to 500 servings of fondue in just a three-hour period. [I hope] this event will go on forever!”
Food for the event will come from local stores like Goodfood, the Village Cheese Shop, the North Fork Flour Shoppe dessert truck, Meats Meat, Fields of Dough, North Fork Donut Company, Lombardi’s Love Lane Market, North Fork Oyster Company, Love Lane Kitchen, and Braun Seafood.
Drinks will be supplied by the Shelter Island Craft Brewery, Tulio’s N.Y. Wine Bar, Macchiato Espresso Bar, Eastern Front Brewing Co. and Doublespeak Craft Cocktails.
Over 30 nonprofits and businesses will make the First Fridays scene, including Stay Salted Facepainting, the Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society, Mint clothing boutique, E2E Energy Solutions, Yoga Folk, Love Lane Sweet Shoppe, Mattituck Florist and many more.
For more information, check the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce’s website or social media.
