Montauk's 36th Annual Fall Festival Coming Soon

MONTAUK, NY — It will be a weekend of family fun at Montauk’s 36th Annual Fall Festival, sponsored by the Montauk Chamber of Commerce.

The event takes place on Columbus Day Weekend, on October 7 and 8, on the Green in downtown Montauk.

New this year are two free trolleys operated by North Fork Trolley Co. to take festival goers between downtown and the Montauk Lighthouse, Harbor and Long Island Rail Road station, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Chamber said.

The service was secured through a grant from New York State Taste NY, East End Getaways and the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, a release said.

Hampton Jitney runs free, local, intra-town service to help people park further west in Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Amagansett and travel to Montauk.

Reservations are required; to reserve, call the Hampton Jitney at 631-283-4600.

The festival kicks off on Saturday with the “Famous Clam Chowder Contest,” at 11 a.m., with a variety of chowders from local restaurants available until they run out, usually around 1 p.m.

Food personalities are slated to judge and present awards for the best New England and Manhattan chowders.

Winners are announced at 3 p.m. that day on the Chamber’s Facebook page and posted here.

Both days include children’s activities and fun including inflatable rides, face painting, pumpkin decorating, crab races, a free 30-horse carousel, and more.

Also featured will be live music by The Lynn Blue Band on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., raffles, Oktoberfest style food, clams and oysters; Long Island wines and beer.

The Montauk Farmers Market will be open on both days. On Saturday, under the tent, a Sports Memorabilia auction will be held, and a display of local artists’ works will be unveiled.

On Sunday, the 3 Bs band performs from noon to 4 p.m.; a Chinese Auction will take place under the tent.

To round off the weekend, Montauk Chamber's annual Cash Catch drawing will e held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday with cash prizes up to $20,000 awarded.

The Fall Festival benefits the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, a not for profit organization, which donates to local not-for-profits such as the Montauk Food Pantry, the July 4th and Fall Fireworks Fund, the Frank Cappozola Scholarship Fund and others.

Carousel sponsors are Kandell, Farnsworth & Pubins CPAs, Gurney’s Montauk, 668 The Gig Shack, South Edison Restaurant, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Lazybones Fishing, Montauk Childcare Center, Montauk Artists Association, Hartman's Briny Breezes, Deep Water Wind and Duryea’s Lobster Deck.

For updates, check out the Montauk Chamber's Facebook page.

Photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.