'Alive On 25' Back With Outdoor Movie, Kids' Zone

RIVERHEAD, NY — "Alive on 25," the popular outdoor street festival in downtown Riverhead, is back Thursday with two new additions — a kids' zone and outdoor movies in Grangebel Park.

The event, hosted by the Downtown Riverhead Business Improvement District, kicked off again in 2021 after being derailed for a year due to the pandemic. The July debut brought out the highest turnout in the event's history, with almost 20,000 onhand for the festival, car show, and fireworks, organizers said.

"Alive on 25 " is back for two remaining dates: this Thursday and again on August 19, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. along Peconic Avenue and Main Street, between Griffing Avenue and Union Avenue.

The Kids' Zone will include face painting, stilt walkers, toys and balloons, Bubblepalooza, the Riverhead Library, local Scouts, Cornell, Relic Sustainability, and more, organizers said. An LED variety show will take place at 7:30 p.m. on the corner of Main Street and Peconic Avenue, featuring glowing props and different acts performed by Team Fun Circus.

The family-friendly outdoor movies are offered by Main Street Agency from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with children choosing the movies.

The Reflextions: Art in the Park neon light exhibit inside Grangebel Park will also be featured.

“It has been wonderful to see so many people dancing, eating, shopping, and gathering on Main Street again. You could feel the joy at our comeback event; people were thrilled to be out and reconnecting. I have not seen smiles that big in a really long time. We are delighted to bring downtown events back to the community and reinvigorate Riverhead,” Kristy Verity, executive director of the Riverhead Business Improvement District, said.

She added: “Increasing family-friendly offerings at Alive on 25 has been our focus since 2020 and we’ll finally get to introduce our ‘Kids' Zone,” bursting with bubbles and free activities during daylight then glittering at dusk with an LED circus performance. We’ll have something for everyone at Alive on 25.”

Added Diane Tucci of Main Street Agency: “Community is at the heart of everything we do, so Main Street Agency & Productions is very excited to work with the Riverhead BIDMA to bring our luminaries and projection screen to downtown Riverhead to provide more family friendly experiences. We love seeing new people enjoy the park and this is a perfect pairing with Reflextions, Art in the Park, and Alive on 25 — two great events made possible by the Town of Riverhead.”

Alive on 25 is a free, walkable, pop-up street festival annually offering local craft beverages, food trucks, dining, street vendors, local artisans, face painters, stilt walkers, jugglers, and activities.

Live musicians perform on six stages.

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