Long Island summer street festivals: Alive After Five, Music on Main and more
People gather around the stage and beer garden during the Alive After Five street festival, where visitors can eat, drink, see live music and even browse arts and crafts on main street in Patchogue. Credit: Daniel Brennan
Downtowns across Long Island come to life in the summer with al fresco events filling the streets and sidewalks. Head to Main Street for a stroll and expect to be met with live music, street vendors, food trucks and more. From a block party in Babylon to Riverhead’s Alive on 25, here are weeknight events to attend across Long Island.
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE IN WANTAGH
Railroad Avenue, Wantagh
Upcoming dates: July 2, 16, 30, Aug. 13, 27
Musician Ed Ryan performs at Thursday Night Live on Railroad Avenue in Wantagh. Credit: Morgan Campbell
The block party features live music and entertainment, activities for kids, video game truck, food trucks and vendors.
- WHEN 5 to 10 p.m.
- MORE INFO 516-679-0100, wantaghchamber.com
ALIVE BY THE BAY IN BAY SHORE
Main Street
Upcoming dates: June 30, July 14, 28 and Aug. 11 (rain date makeup: Aug. 18)
The Cover Girl Band performs during Bay Shore's Alive by the Bay festival. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
The event features live music, outdoor dining, arts and crafts and children’s activities.
- WHEN 5 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO 631-518-2400, bayshoreeats.com
GREAT NECK PLAZA’S SUMMER PROMENADE NIGHTS
Event alternates between several locations
Street scene of the Promenade Night in Great Neck. Credit: Ryan C. Jones
Upcoming dates: June 17 (Great Neck Road), June 24 (Cutter Mill Road), July 8 (South Middle Neck Road), July 15 (South Side of Middle Neck Road), July 22 (Bond Street) and July 29 (North Side of Middle Neck between Grace Avenue and Maple Drive)
Dine in the street European-style and join the festivities in Great Neck Plaza. Entertainment includes live music.
- June 17: Red40, Downstage, Final Versus, Korean Rock Band and Great Neck High South High School musicians
- July 8: Evan & James
- July 15: Drama Kings
- July 22: Albert Liu & The Wild Hearts
- July 29: Band of Characters
WHEN 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
MORE INFO 516-482-4500, shopgreatneck.com
PATCHOGUE’S ALIVE AFTER FIVE
Main Street
Upcoming dates: July 2, 16, 30 and Aug. 13 (rain date makeup: Aug. 20)
Patchogue's Alive After Five street festival is brimming with food, drinks, live music and art for sale. Credit: Daniel Brennan
Patchogue Village’s Main Street festival takes place on various Thursdays this summer, with live music playing on multiple stages. Each fest will feature more than 100 food and craft vendors, expanded outdoor dining areas, a midway stage and family activities.
- WHEN 5 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO 631-207-1000, patchogue.com
FARMINGDALE’S MUSIC ON MAIN
Between Prospect and South Front streets
Upcoming dates: July 9, 23, Aug. 6, 20 (rain date makeup: Aug. 27). An Oktoberfest will be 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19.
People flock to Farmingdale's Main Street for music, food and drinks. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Held along two blocks of the village’s Main Street, this free event features live music playing on multiple stages. Guests can also eat outdoors and shop the area, weather permitting.
- WHEN 5 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO farmingdalemusiconmain.com
PARK AFTER DARK IN MASSAPEQUA PARK
Park Boulevard and Front Street
Upcoming dates: July 15, 29 and Aug. 12
The street fair features live music with outdoor dining, food trucks and spirits.
- WHEN 5 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO 516-798-0244, masspkny.gov
PORT PROMENADE
Event alternates between two locations in Port Washington
Upcoming dates: June 18 (Main Street from Central Drive to Library Drive), July 16 (Main Street from Port Washington Boulevard to Mackey Avenue)
Stroll, dine or shop in a car-free zone with outdoor dining, live music, street performers and vendors.
- WHEN 5 to 10 p.m.
- MORE INFO 516-883-8890, portwashingtonbid.org/promenade
BABYLON BLOCK PARTY
Deer Park Avenue
Upcoming dates: July 16 (rain date: July 23) and Aug. 20 (rain date: Aug. 27)
Anastyn Miceli, left, of East Northport, and Laura Mondesir, of North Babylon, draw on the street together at the Babylon Block Party in Babylon Village. Credit: Linda Rosier
The village’s summer block party series features live music, outdoor dining and vendors. For children, find the Kid’s Zone with bounce houses and carnival games. Deer Park Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic between Main Street and Park Avenue, with stages at each end where bands will play.
- WHEN 5 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO 631-213-6894, babylonchamber.com
RIVERHEAD’S ALIVE ON 25
Main Street (Griffing to Union) and Peconic Avenue
Upcoming dates: July 9 and Aug. 6 (rain date makeup: Aug. 12)
Time to get street smart - head to Main Street in Riverhead and enjoy a lineup of outdoor music and entertainment as part of Alive on 25. Credit: Brian Matus
Alive on 25 comes to Riverhead for two nights this year. The street festival features live entertainment and outdoor dining along with locally sourced craft beverages available for purchase.
- WHEN 5 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO 631-494-3485 (text), aliveon25.org
WEDNESDAYS ON WELLWOOD
Lindenhurst Town Square and Gazebo and along North and South Wellwood Avenue
Upcoming dates: July 15 (rain date: July 22), Aug. 12 (rain date: Aug. 19), Sept. 23 (rain date: Sept. 30)
The street festival features more than 100 vendors, live music, food, and the Kidz Korner, filled with activities for little ones.
- WHEN 4 to 9 p.m.
- MORE INFO 631-226-4641, lindenhurstchamber.org
Newsday's Gina Tabarus contributed to this article.
