Memorial Day Weekend 2017: What's Happening On the East End

Memorial Day weekend signals not only a time to remember the nation's heroes who made the greatest sacrifice, but also the kickoff to the summer season on the East End.

As families flock to the both the North and South Forks, here's a roundup of happenings, to pay tribute with Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, and then spend some quality time enjoying the best fairs and activities the East End has to offer.

Memorial Day parades and tributes

Southampton

The annual Southampton Memorial Day Parade will kick off on Monday at 10:45 a.m. The parade starts at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street, and continues down Jobs Lane to Agawam Park. A memorial service takes place at 11 a.m. following the parade. Refreshments will be served at Veteran’s Memorial Hall.

East Hampton

East Hampton's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 550 once again hosts an annual Memorial Day service, beginning at 9 a.m., with a parade to follow at 10 a.m. on East Hampton Village's Main Street.

Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor will host a Memorial Day Parade Monday at 9 a.m., with the parade wending its way down Main Street.

Riverhead

- The annual Memorial Day Parade, organized by the Combined Veterans of Riverhead, begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, beginning at the corner of Pulaski Street and Osborn Avenue.

- A memorial service takes place at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Prince Boulevard in Calverton, on Monday at 1 p.m.

Southold Town

- Orient: An annual Orient Memorial Day parade begins the day's events at 7:30 a.m. at the Orient Firehouse on Route 25 at 7:30 a.m. The parade goes down Tabor Road, Orchard and Navy Streets, Village Lane and then back to Route 25 and the firehouse.

- Greenport: The annual Scout Memorial Day service takes place, beginning at 7:45 a.m. in the Adams Street parking lot when participants will gather before the 8 a.m. parade. The parade heads down Front Street and to the railroad dock for a service, where flowers will be tossed into the water to remember those who've made the greatest sacrifice.

- Mattituck: The annual town parade takes place in Mattituck this year, beginning at 10 a.m. at the corner of Pike Street and Wickham Avenue, near the American Legion monument and ending at the Mattituck Firehouse. The public is then invited back to the American Legion's Griswold Terry Glover Post #803 in Southold to view a memorial field of poppies and teach kids the history of the day

Memorial Day Weekend Fun Events

NORTH FORK/RIVERHEAD

Friday/Saturday

Greenport

Carnival

- Greenport: The Greenport Fire Department Star Hose Compnay Carnival takes place Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Polo Grounds on Moores Lane, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fireworks are slated for Saturday at 10 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday.

Chowderfest

- New Suffolk: The New Suffolk Waterfront Fund's 9th Annual Chowderfest will take place Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the New Suffolk waterfront and feature locally prepared chowders, a classic BBQ lunch, activities and face painting for the kids, live music, a Chinese auction, and 50 varieties of perennials for sale.

SHELTER ISLAND

Barn Dance

- Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, in cooperation with Shelter Island Town Recreation Department, will present an evening of barn dancing at the Shelter Island Youth Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. The fun will begin at 7:45 p.m. with a short instructional segment. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a snack to share.

Manor family Bennett Konesni and Edith Gawler will be joined by musicologist Jeff Davis, a Yankee fiddler from Port Jefferson who now resides in Woodstock, CT, and is known for "having done more to research and resurrect Long Island’s native fiddle tunes than anyone on the planet. While pursuing his recent passion of hunting for fiddle tunes in the archives, Jeff found two massive collections — one from the William Sydney Mount collection in Setauket and the other from the collection of Isaac Homan in Bellport," organizers said in a release.

Tickets are $14. Free admission for kids under 10. Purchase tickets online here or call Sylvester Manor at (631) 749-062

SUNDAY

Street Painting Festival

- Riverhead: The 21st Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival, presented by East End Arts, takes place Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. on East Main Street and features street painting, an artisan and craft fair, live music and performances, drumming, dance, food trucks and more. Free. Rain date, Monday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SOUTH FORK

MONTAUK

Art show

Friday through Sunday, the Montauk Artists’ Association hosts its 9th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Show on the Green. "Come join us for a weekend of exploring art in its myriad forms! Discover a piece of art to enrich your life and beautify your home or office," organizers said.

The show takes place Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and both Saturday and Sunday from 10 .m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Saturday

Kids' Block Party

Bridgehampton: The Memorial Day Weekend Block Party At The Children’s Museum of the East End takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon.

"Join us along with our friends at Hudson Yards as we kick off the season as only the Children’s Museum can, during our first ever community Block Party. With block building activities, DIY stomp rockets, crafts with community partners, games, chalk street art, the official debut of our new interactives and more, this is one event you and your family won’t want to miss," the Museum said.

Free for Museum members, $14 for non-members, including adults and kids over a year old.

Space is limited and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register, please call the Museum at 631-537-8250 or sign up online.

Southampton

Rosé Soirée

Southampton: Dan's Taste of Summer Rosé Soirée is the Summer 2017 kickoff event, featuring more than 30 rosés, craft cocktails and beer, chef tastings and more. "Savor the finest rosés the universe has to offer from the Hamptons, the North Fork, France, Spain and beyond, paired with bites from top chefs and restaurants," organizers said.

The event is located at the Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, and takes place Saturday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. For info, click here.

Sunday

Kosher BBQ

East Hampton: Chabad of the Hamptons presents a Backyard BBQ Launch on Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 13 Woods Lane in East Hampton.

The "best kosher BBQ in the Hamptons" features favorites from past years and new dishes, too — with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Adults cost $36 and children $18; a table for 6 costs $200, with advance reservations required. For reservations, click here or call 631-329-5800.