'Alive on 25' Kicks Off Thursday Night in Downtown Riverhead

RIVERHEAD, NY - The wait is finally over, as the much-anticipated "Alive on 25" summer street festival kicks off Thursday night in Riverhead.

Riverhead and Patchogue municipalities worked together for Riverhead's "Alive on 25" event, which will take place on Thursday, as well as on July 28, August 11 and August 25 on Main Street in downtown Riverhead from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The free summer street festival in downtown Riverhead will feature local craft beverages and wine, live music, artists, street vendors and activities for all ages.

Main Street will close to cars to allow a walkable pop-up musical festival and restaurant offerings, artist exhibitions, free community dance lessons and family friendly activities. "Alive on 25" will also host a popular classic car show, according to its Facebook event page.

Earlier this year, the Riverhead Business Improvement District approached the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce to discuss working together to create a similar event to their highly successful Alive After Five®, a release stated.

Patchogue Chamber Executive Director David Kennedy "enthusiastically" embraced the relationship and has since been instrumental in guiding the Riverhead process, the release said.

“Patchogue’s Alive After Five® has such great attendance that we are happy to give our attendees the opportunity to attend a similar event on alternating Thursday nights,” Kennedy said.

A cross promotional campaign has been designed to include shared media coverage of both events to encourage people to experience both Main Street events, the releases aid.

The series of events also takes place in Patchogue on Thursdays; they began last Thursday and will take place on alternating weeks between the two towns for four weeks each.

The Alive on 25 planning committee said those attending an expect "a healthy participation of Main Street restaurants and bars offering food and beverage service in the street, with several top Long Island bands playing each night at various locations."

Alive after Five® has been integral in the revitalization and growth in Patchogue, many believe; some feel the two towns are "sister" municipalities.

According to Riverhead BID Vice President Steven Shauger, “We’re looking forward to providing a similar experience for visitors and local businesses alike.”

In order to improve traffic patterns and enhance pedestrian safety on East Main Street near the Long Island Aquarium during the event, Riverhead Town Police said traffic at Ostrander Avenue at the intersection of 2nd Street will be detoured west to Union Avenue between 3 p.m. and 11 a.m. Ostrander Avenue will remain open to local traffic, buses, shuttles and hotel parking, police said.

For additional information, go to Aliveon25.com and AliveAfterFive.com.