This year marks Port Jefferson’s 8th annual Harvest Festival, featuring attractions and activities for everyone. Meet and greet a legion of scarecrows on display along Scarecrow Alley, lining the street to bid an eerie welcome to festival visitors.
Meander through exhibits of classic cars and antique farm machinery, take in a glow-in-the-dark puppet show and embark on a haunted walking tour. Be dazzled by a wood carver at work, and be creative at a seasonal crafting session. There will be live music, live dance performances and a host of other activities throughout the harbor village streets.
The event of the day that draws the most concentrated crowd of participants and spectators, however, is the dog costume parade. Every year, man’s best friend joins in the Halloween festivities by donning a costume and strutting his or her stuff along the parade route. From cute, silly and creative to beastly, scary and bad to the bone, each costume is scrutinized by judges, and every pup’s owner fervently believes that his or her dog should win the grand prize. Ultimately, the fun is in taking aim with cell phone cameras to capture the most uniquely costumed canines.
When the chill strikes and rattles your inner skeleton, you can warm up by sidling over to the open flames of a fire pit with skewered marshmallows in tow. The marshmallow roasting tradition is set up in the parking lot in front of The Frigate. Alternately, head over to the Village Way to register for the annual Chowder Crawl, which will enable you sample different piping hot chowders. Other tasty eats and beverages include wine and cheese tasting, roasted corn, beers from Port Jeff Harbor Brewing Company, steaming hot tea from You, Me and Tea and plenty of locally produced edibles at the Port Jefferson farmers market. Merchants throughout the village will be welcoming trick or treaters, and don’t forget to take the family pooch to Fetch Doggy Boutique and Bakery for his or her own fanciful treat for being such a cooperative sport at the parade.
The Harbor Festival runs from noon until 5:00pm on Sunday, October 25, and the farmer’s market is open from 9:00am until 2:00pm. The dog costume parade begins at 2:00pm at the corner of East Main Street and Arden Place, in front of Fetch Doggy Boutique and Bakery. A complete schedule of events and activities will be posted at the Village Way restaurant on Main Street, or you can access the flyer at http://portjeffchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Harvest-Fest-2015-Flyer.jpg.