CLOSE
Tags Posts tagged with "Festival"

Festival

by -
0 157

Long Islanders enjoyed food, rides and games at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station, an annual event hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption.

The festival ran from Aug. 20 to Aug. 23. Before finding their way to the food, rides and games, people who attended the four-day event could pick up raffle tickets for Sunday’s raffle drawing, buy toys and jewelry and other things from the vendors. Those who entered the drawing could win prizes like a car, various electronics and cash, among other prizes. Visitors could dance or watch a group of dancers perform several traditional Greek dances and many viewed the 30-minute fireworks display on two of the festival evenings before returning to their games and rides or going home for the night.

1 of 20
Long Islanders could enjoy rides, games, popcorn and cotton candy at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Fireworks went off at 9:30 p.m. at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
James Amir, left, of J & E AirBrush Tattoos, airbrush tattoo a girl at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Community members at the festival could order grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and other types of Greek food at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Dancers perform some Greek dances at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug 21 and Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Small fish were placed in bowls for a festival game at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Fireworks went off at 9:30 p.m. at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Kids enjoy one of the kid-friendly rides at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
A little boy and girl pick out a toy at the Fish Til You Win game at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Dancers perform some Greek dances at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug 21 and Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Father John Phillips of East Setauket holds his son Hunter, right, as he goes down the slide alongside his other children Chase, center, and daughter Peyton at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Jewelry vendors sells their creations at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo by Giselle Barkley
Fireworks went off at 9:30 p.m. at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Candy and caramel covered apples were served at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Community members gather around various vendors near the entrance of the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Two women dressed as Elsa from Frozen and Ariel from the Little Mermaid, pose for a photo with a little girl at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo by Giselle Barkley
A little boy gets his face painted at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
DJ Tony Entertainment group, which specializes in Greek and American music, performs at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Two girls ride the Ferris wheel at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley
Community members and their kids could win prizes at the Greek Festival in Port Jefferson Station on Friday, Aug. 21, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Photo By Giselle Barkley.

by -
0 199
The Rythmos Hellenic Dance Group from the Greek Orthodox School in Port Jefferson Station performs at a previous Greek Festival. File photo

Now in its 40th year, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 430 Sheep Pasture Rd., Port Jefferson Station, will hold its annual festival tonight, Aug. 20, from 5 to 10 p.m., Aug. 21 from 5 to 11 p.m., Aug. 22 from 1 to 11 p.m. and Aug. 23 from 1 to 10 p.m. Fireworks will be held on Aug. 21 and 22 at 9:30 p.m.

The event will feature carnival rides, face painting, games, live music by the band Aegean Connection, traditional Hellenic dance performances and culinary delights.

Authentic mouth-watering foods such as gyros, moussaka, tiropita, souvlaki and spanakopita will be served up, along with sweet desserts such as melomakarona, galaktoboureko, kourabiedes, koulourakia, baklava and loukoumades, a fried dough pastry favorite.

Guided tours of the church will be available throughout the day, and vendors will be offering Greek art, jewelry, souvenirs, icons and much more.

One of the main attractions at the festival is the over-the-top sweepstakes that the church holds. This year 315 prizes will be awarded. Prizes range from cars — a 2016 Mercedes Benz GLK 4Matic is first prize — to a 13-foot Boston Whaler 130 SS 40 HP, cash prizes, TVs, iPods, tablets, Mets tickets, gift cards and more. Tickets for the sweepstakes are $100 each, limited to 4,999 tickets — meaning that one out of 16 will win a prize. The drawing will be held on Aug. 23 beginning at 7 p.m.

Free shuttle buses will pick up festival attendees from Ward Melville High School, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Port Jefferson Ferry and the Long Island Rail Road station to transport them to festival grounds, making parking at this popular event a breeze. Admission to the festival is $2 per person, children under 12 free. For more information, call the church office at 631-473-0894 or visit www.portjeffgreekfest.com.

by -
0 1498
Wacky Chad, the stunt comedian, gets some air in the company of West Meadow Beach visitors at last Wednesday’s Jewish festival. Photo by Peter DiLauro

By Carin M. Smilk

It was a real scorcher, according to those who attended the sixth annual Jewish Summer Festival, referring to Wednesday’s, July 29, event at West Meadow Beach in East Setauket in the midst of a heat wave that marked a week of 90-degree weather.

But it also turned out to be the largest turnout yet, with more than 500 people attending of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations.

The festival was sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Stony Brook, which serves the Jewish community on Suffolk’s North Shore from Smithtown to Port Jefferson, and is co-directed by Rabbi Motti and Chaya Grossbaum. On tap was live music in the form of the high-energy Jewish rock band Yellow Red Sky; family entertainment, including a moon bounce, face painting and the award-winning stunt comedian Wacky Chad; and a kosher barbecue with all the trimmings, as well as cotton candy and Italian ices for the kids and grown-ups, too.

“There was something for every generation to appreciate,” said Jodi Casciano of Port Jefferson. “It was an evening full of warmth and connectedness — very good for the soul. The kids all had a blast, and the live music was phenomenal.”

The feeling of connectivity was alive throughout the event. In fact, the band dedicated a song in tribute to the four young women who were killed last month in a tragic limousine crash in Cutchogue: Smithtown’s Brittney Schulman, 23, and Lauren Baruch, 24, as well as Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park, and Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack.

One of the more colorful notes of the three-hour festival occurred when the beach balls were distributed as an event giveaway. They were donated by Gayle Stock of Setauket, owner of TakeStock Inc., who declared the evening “fabulous” and is already planning to return next year.

Marty Gerber, a retiree from St. James, has been involved with Chabad for about a year and went to the festival for the first time. He said he was surprised by the size of the crowd, noting that “the tent area was overflowing.”

There were rows of chairs arranged under the shade of the tent, he described, and some even brought their own to position on the beach. The food was tasty, Gerber said.

“It’s a very good place for kids to have fun, and for the parents to relax and socialize,” Gerber said.

And that was the whole point.

“The goal is simply to bring the community together in unity for an upbeat Jewish experience,” said Rabbi Grossbaum. “It was a ‘feel good’ time for everyone there. A special shout-out goes to the main corporate sponsors, without whom it would not be possible.”

They included Jefferson’s Ferry, the Suffolk Center for Speech, Fairy LiceMothers, 3 Village Wellness, Nguyen Plastic Surgery, Gourmet Glatt, Gurwin Jewish and the Times Beacon Record Newspapers.

The event ended around 8 p.m., with the seasonal sky bringing its own sort of closure: a spectacular sunset over the beach.

by -
0 2328

Ten nights of independent films you won’t see anywhere else

Katie Page stars in “This Isn’t Funny” to be screened on July 17 at 9:30 p.m. Photo by Peter Borosh

By Donna Newman

Would you love to travel the world but lack the funds? … the time? … the energy? Well, you’re in luck! The 20th Annual Stony Brook Film Festival — which begins this evening at 8 p.m. — will bring the world to you. Travel far and wide in the comfort of a cushioned seat in the Staller Center’s air-conditioned Main Stage Theater on the Stony Brook University campus. Festival Director Alan Inkles says, “Over ten days, [you] will be transported to Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Mexico, Greece, Egypt, France, Canada, Iran, Belgium, England, Morocco and Algeria.”

Should you prefer homegrown fare, Inkles said, “We have more American films than ever this year. Dramas, comedies and documentaries will be shown on our huge screen, and many of the producers, directors, cast and crew members will attend the Q-&-As following the films.” In sum: There will be something for everyone.

You’ll travel through time during the 10-day festival as well. Be transported to the South in the aftermath of the Civil War (“The Keeping Room”). Find yourself in a Nazi-occupied Dutch village (“Secrets of War”). See how American propaganda films were created during World War II (“Projections of America”). Return to the 1960s in Quebec for a story with heart and music (“The Passion of Augustine”). Tune in to a television debate series in 1968 that created a whole new format for public discourse (“Best of Enemies”).

Revisit the turn of this century and yet another banking scandal (“The Clearstream Affair”). Spend time in the current decade examining women’s rights (“Nefertiti’s Daughters”). Or step out of time into some magical moments in the short films “Freeze,” “A Single Life,” “Wrapped” and “DOT.”

Inkles and his staff have screened more than 700 entries, looking for the best independent features, documentaries and short films available worldwide. The schedule includes 34 films; 19 are feature length and 15 are shorts. Among them are a world premiere and eight films that will have their first U.S. screenings.

“Audiences will get to see many works of true indie spirit, where the filmmakers wear a variety of hats,” commented Inkles. “On Opening Night we’ll have the U.S. premiere of ‘The Man from Oran,’ a drama from Algeria starring Lyes Salem, who also wrote and directed the film. It’s a story set largely in the years following Algeria’s independence from France, that explores the themes of friendship, idealism, politics and betrayal.” Inkles is pleased that Salem will be present on Opening Night.

Perennial festival attendees will recognize the star of the Closing Night feature, “The Passion of Augustine,” a film from French Canada about a small convent school that had become a musical treasure. Céline Bonnier also starred in the 2012 festival entry, “Mommy Is at the Hairdresser’s.” Léa Pool directed both films. Inkles is delighted that Bonnier will attend the screening.

An added feature to this year’s festival is a display of Vintage Film Posters in the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery located on the first floor of the Staller Center. This exhibit of classic movie posters will be open each night of the festival from one hour prior to the first screening until the last screening of the night begins.

This year’s festival is being presented by its newest sponsor — Island Federal Credit Union — a financial institution that has been serving Long Islanders for 60 years. Island Federal has established a 10-year partnership with Stony Brook University that provides philanthropic funding for multiple university projects.

The SBFF runs for 10 nights. Most nights screenings begin at 7 p.m. Starting times for the second film varies. Check the schedule. (In some cases, Q-&-As may delay the start of the second feature.) The Opening Night film begins at 8 p.m. The Closing Night film begins at 8:30 p.m. And there’s a bonus feature on Sunday evening that begins at 6 p.m.

A Festival Pass to see all the films is $85. A $225 Gold Pass includes seating in the section reserved for filmmakers and their guests, as well as tickets to the opening and closing receptions. Individual tickets ($10, $8 seniors, $5 students) will be sold subject to availability. Tickets for the Opening Night and Closing Night receptions are $25 each, also subject to availability.

For more information, call the Staller Center Box Office at 631-632-ARTS or visit www.stonybrookfilmfestival.com.

by -
0 86

The Rad Trads opened the 50th Huntington Summer Arts Festival with a bang on Friday, June 26. This New York-based ensemble energetically played their diverse and brassy repertoire ranging from New Orleans second line to Chicago and delta blues, R&B and rock ’n’ roll. For their finale, they moved off the stage, playing among a clapping and happy audience.

1 of 13
The Rad Trads perform among the audience at the Summer Arts Festival. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The horn section of the Rad Trads have fun on stage. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The horn section of the Rad Trads have fun on stage. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The horn section of the Rad Trads have fun on stage. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The Rad Trads perform. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The Rad Trads perform. Photo by Dan Woulfin
One of the singers of the Rad Trads performs. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The audience looks on at the Rad Trad’s trumpet player. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The Rad Trads perform. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The Rad Trads perform. Photo by Dan Woulfin
The view the tech crew sees from the sound/lighting booth of the Chapin Rainbow Stage. Photo by Dan Woulfin
Volunteers set up 50th Anniversary Huntington Summer Arts Festival shirts and merchandise. Photo by Dan Woulfin
Many of the performers who have performed at the Huntington Summer Arts Festival over the last fifty years sign this wall behind the stage to mark their performance. Photo by Dan Woulfin

by -
0 107
Garland Jeffreys performs at last year’s Huntington Summer Arts Festival. File photo

The Huntington Arts Council’s Summer Arts Festival is turning 50, and the council is celebrating the anniversary in style.

In honor of the milestone, the arts group will be hosting a 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. During the event, Sandy Chapin, the wife of Harry Chapin and current arts in education chairperson, will be presented with the Huntington Arts Council Harry and Sandy Chapin Arts and Humanitarian Award. The celebration will be held during the opening weekend of the annual festival.

Established in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the council has been hosting a summer arts festival concert series, where Huntington Town residents get to enjoy free music performances from various genres across the nation and the world.

“The town values its long-time partnership with the arts council in funding and presenting the summer arts festival, which continues to be the signature event in the town’s cultural calendar,” Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said in a statement.

Award winning musicians, actors, dancers and artists perform at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Heckscher Park from Tuesday through Sunday for 40 nights, with family nights on Tuesday evenings. Musicals like “West Side Story,” “Shrek,” “Nunsense A-men!” and “Peter Pan” will be on this summer. And bands span genres from traditional Dixieland jazz, contemporary folk and classical orchestra to spoken word rap and more.

As the years have gone by, the festival diversified in terms of performers and types of shows, said John Chicherio, the performing arts director at the council and the program director of the summer arts festival.

“The festival has a great mix of styles and genres.”

The Huntington Men’s Chorus and the Huntington Choral Society will kick off the summer arts festival’s first weekend. The groups have performed each year since the festival began.

Chapin is currently the arts in education chairperson for the council. She has been a staunch advocate of the arts for decades, with a strong commitment to arts education — specifically with the Huntington Arts Council Journey program, which she helped launch. The Journey program, established in 1985, is meant to integrate cultural arts into a classroom curriculum. The program runs in six different school districts, including Huntington, Harborfields and Northport-East Northport. Chapin brought her experience as an elementary school teacher to the Journey program to help make it adaptable in the school districts.

Following the celebration at the Heckscher Museum of Art, members of Chapin’s family will perform a concert at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Heckscher Park. Proceeds from this support the mission of the Huntington Arts Council, which is to enrich the quality of life for Long Islanders through cultural art and musical programs.

“The summer arts festival is a great way to visit good friends and enjoy a summer evening,” Chapin said. “It’s hard to say what has been my favorite part since it’s such a diverse festival.”

by -
0 106
1 of 19
A pirate gives a young boy a high-five after a treasure hunt during Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7, 2015. Photo by Bob Savage
The annual Boater's Maritime Festival in Port Jefferson on June 7 has the harbor and the park full of fun. Photo by Bob Savage
Farmingville resident Arielle Ferchland, 7, admires a boa, handled by ranger Eric Powers, at Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
A flyboarder takes off during Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
The Stony Brook School sailing team gives a demonstration at the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
A young girl tries her hand at rowing during Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
Things get slippery at the chamber of commerce's clam eating contest during the annual Boater's Maritime Festival in Port Jefferson on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
The Brookhaven Town parking lot on Port Jefferson Harbor becomes an art gallery at the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
People have a paddleboard race in Port Jefferson Harbor during the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
The band Our Generation gets funky at Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
Port Jefferson Harbor was full of all different kinds of watercraft at the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
Ranger Eric Powers holds a boa during the annual Boater's Maritime Festival in Port Jefferson on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
A flyboarding demo makes a splash at Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
People have a paddleboard race in Port Jefferson Harbor during the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
Pirates take children on a treasure hunt during Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
Port Jefferson resident Belle Chen, 5, shows off her art skills at the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
Young boys paddleboard in Port Jefferson Harbor during the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 7. Photo by Bob Savage
"Pirates" hold a gun demonstration during Port Jefferson's annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 6. Photo by Bob Savage
A paddleboard race takes off in Port Jefferson Harbor during the annual Boater's Maritime Festival on June 6, 2015. File photo by Bob Savage

Port Jefferson held its annual Boater’s Maritime Festival on June 6 and June 7, bringing pirates, art, animals and water sports to the village’s downtown area on a warm weekend. Residents and visitors learned how to row, stepped onto paddleboards, wiggled into kayaks, went on treasure hunts, stuffed their faces with clams, petted slippery snakes and more.

Prev123Page 3 of 3
TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©