Hey South Shore,
A year ago this week, the first South Shore Digest landed in your inbox. Since then you've written back to tell us about spots we missed, shows you loved, and Saturdays that worked out because of something you read here. That part surprised me most. What started as a list of things to do turned into a conversation with the towns we live in.
So thank you for reading, for writing back, and for trusting us with your weekends. Year two starts now, and this one's a good way to kick it off. Let's get into it.
Top 5 for the Weekend
Feast of St. Liberata, 59th Annual (Rain Date) - Main Street (Patchogue)
Patchogue's Italian feast lands on its rain date, and Main Street gives itself over to the whole thing: the procession of Saint Liberata, tarantella dancers, a bocce tournament, and a zeppole eating contest. Add a classic car show, a petting zoo, and face painting, and you've got a Saturday afternoon that runs until 5. Fifty-nine years in, this one earns its second chance.
When: Saturday, October 3 | 12:00 PM
Where: Main Street, Patchogue
Price: Free
🎪 See the full listing
Great South Bay Brewery Art + Ale Oktoberfest - Great South Bay Brewery (Bay Shore)
Bay Shore's brewery turns the first weekend of October into its own Oktoberfest, and Saturday is the centerpiece. From noon to 6, the Great South Bay Brass Quintet plays, vendors set up, and a stein-holding contest runs, all built around an Oktoberfest menu at 25 Drexel Drive. Friday night kicks it off with The Warped Tour Band as its own show. Saturday's open to all with an RSVP encouraged, so let them know you're coming.
When: Saturday, October 3 | 12:00 PM
Where: Great South Bay Brewery, Bay Shore
Price: Free
🍺 Learn more
The Addams Family, the Musical - CM Performing Arts Center (Oakdale)
CMPAC opens its run of The Addams Family this weekend, and it's exactly the spooky-season fit October asks for. Wednesday Addams has grown up, fallen for a "normal" boy, and invited his parents over for a dinner that goes about how you'd expect in that house. Rated PG-13 by the theater and running about two hours and 35 minutes with intermission, with a Saturday-night curtain and a Sunday matinee.
When: Saturday, October 3 | 7:30 PM; Sunday, October 4 | 2:00 PM
Where: CM Performing Arts Center, Oakdale
Price: $$
🖤 Grab your tickets
Ann Wilson: The Voice of Heart & Tripsitter - Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (Patchogue)
The founding voice of Heart brings her band Tripsitter to Patchogue to close the weekend, and that voice still fills a room. Sunday night, downtown Patchogue, a headliner to send you into the week. If you grew up on "Barracuda" and "Crazy on You," you already know what this one is.
When: Sunday, October 4 | 7:00 PM
Where: Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, Patchogue
Price: $$+
🎤 Reserve your seats
West Islip Country Fair, 50th Annual (Rain Date) - West Islip Public Library Grounds (West Islip)
Moved off September 27 by the weather, the country fair gets its Sunday: more than 100 craft vendors, live music on the stage, and a children's area with a bounce house, slide, magician, and face painting, plus food vendors across the library grounds until 4. This one marks 50 years, which is a long time for a community to keep a tradition going. It's already on its rain date, so a quick look at the fair's site before you go is worth it.
When: Sunday, October 4 | 10:00 AM
Where: West Islip Public Library Grounds, West Islip
Price: Free
🎡 Catch the fair
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Family Picks
Pumpkin Festival & Family Fun Day - Salt Shack Seaside Grill (Babylon)
The rained-out September pumpkin festival gets its day on the water at Cedar Beach from noon to 4, with bounce houses, face painting, kids' temporary tattoos, and Disney characters walking the grounds. The first 600 kids go home with a pumpkin. It's outdoors and Sunday carries a chance of showers, so watch the sky before you head out.
When: Sunday, October 4 | 12:00 PM
Where: Salt Shack Seaside Grill, Babylon
Price: Free
🎃 Get the festival details
Movies on Main: Edward Scissorhands - 401 Main Street (Islip)
The Town of Islip's indoor movie night screens Edward Scissorhands, which lands right in the sweet spot for early October. Doors open at 6 and the film rolls at 6:30, and under-16s come with an adult. An easy Friday for families who want a night out without the weather being a factor.
When: Friday, October 2 | 6:30 PM
Where: 401 Main Street, Islip
Price: Free
🎬 Get the movie details
Village of Brightwaters Community Block Party - Brightwaters Village Square (Brightwaters)
The village and the Brightwaters Business Association throw a block party in the square with live music, food, and family activities from noon to 4. An easy Sunday afternoon to walk to. It's outdoors with no rain plan posted, so keep an eye on the sky.
When: Sunday, October 4 | 12:00 PM
Where: Brightwaters Village Square, Brightwaters
🎈 View the flyer
Date Night / Nightlife
Beginnings: A Celebration of the Music of Chicago - Boulton Center for the Performing Arts (Bay Shore)
Chicago's horn-driven catalog fills the Boulton stage for a Friday night out, in a room built for brass. Dinner in downtown Bay Shore first, then the show, and the weekend starts on the right note.
When: Friday, October 2 | 8:00 PM
Where: Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, Bay Shore
Price: $$+
🎺 Book your seats
Yächtley Crëw - Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (Patchogue)
Straight off the SiriusXM Yacht Rock Radio stage and a four-year Las Vegas residency, Yächtley Crëw brings the smooth '70s and '80s hits to Patchogue on Saturday. A set list that leans all the way into the fun. A Saturday night that doesn't take itself too seriously, in the best way.
When: Saturday, October 3 | 8:00 PM
Where: Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, Patchogue
Price: $$
⛵ Book your night
The Soul Jam Revue: A Tribute to Philly Soul - CM Performing Arts Center (Oakdale)
A Sunday-night tribute to the Sound of Philadelphia, the era of the O'Jays, the Spinners, the Stylistics, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Smooth vocals and deep grooves, a catalog that gets a room singing along. A warm way to close out the weekend in Oakdale.
When: Sunday, October 4 | 7:00 PM
Where: CM Performing Arts Center, Oakdale
Price: $$
🎶 Find your seats
Free & Affordable
Cassidy Lee (Sayville): Waterfront live music at The Cull House to open the weekend, at Sayville's seafood spot. An easy Thursday if you want dinner and a soundtrack. Thursday, October 1 | 5:00 PM | Free | 🎶 Browse the music
Lisa Polizzi Jam (Patchogue): Thursday jam night at Daisy's Nashville-style lounge, with players trading songs at the bar. Settle in for the night. Thursday, October 1 | 7:00 PM | Free | 🎸 Pull up a stool
Sayville Falls Fall Concert Series: Deanna Hudson (Sayville): The beer garden's fall concert series rolls on with a Friday-evening set, a good excuse for a cold pour and some music as the light drops. Friday, October 2 | 5:30 PM | Free | 🍻 Find the show
Happy Hour Band: One Nite Band (Babylon): Babylon Village's pub opens Friday with its happy-hour band, the reliable Deer Park Avenue start to a weekend. Grab a seat and a pint and let it build. Friday, October 2 | 6:00 PM | Free | 🍺 Plan the night
Live Music by JHaus (Oakdale): A Friday night of local live music at Oakdale's brewhouse, easy and unhurried. Good beer and a band in the corner. Friday, October 2 | 7:00 PM | Free | 🎤 Catch the set
Ventura Boulevard (Patchogue): Live music paired with barbecue on West Main Street at Bobbique, where the smoke and the sound go together. Friday night, downtown Patchogue. Friday, October 2 | 8:00 PM | Free | 🎵 Head to Bobbique
Ed Travers (Patchogue): A Saturday-evening set by the Patchogue River at The Oar, waterfront view and a relaxed room, dinner music that fills the space without taking it over. Saturday, October 3 | 6:30 PM | Free | ⚓ Visit The Oar
Southern Earth Experience (Babylon): Saturday-night live music on the water at Salt Shack, out at Cedar Beach with the bay at your back. Saturday, October 3 | 7:00 PM | Free | 🌊 See the events
Miss Mayhem at Eleanor's Lounge (Bohemia): Miss Mayhem returns to Eleanor's with high-energy rock and roll, a Saturday where you're not sitting down for long. Saturday, October 3 | 8:00 PM | $ | 🤘 Visit Eleanor's
Sunday Sounds with High Note and Orchard Street (Sayville): Live music and Orchard Street food among the vines at Loughlin Vineyard, running the whole afternoon. A slow Sunday in the best sense. Sunday, October 4 | 12:00 PM | Free | 🍷 Plan your afternoon
📌 Community Board (Quick Hits)
Ways to feed a neighbor, pass along what you're not using, and lend a hand this week.
LI Cares Farm to Truck Fresh Food Distribution Event (Patchogue). LI Cares brings free farm-fresh produce and dairy to the back lot of the Patchogue-Medford Library, open to the whole community. Friday, October 2 | 11:00 AM | Patchogue-Medford Library back lot, Patchogue | Free
Stop The Clock On Hunger Fundraiser (Bay Shore). The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Bay Shore holds its Stop the Clock on Hunger fundraiser Sunday evening, 5 to 8; the location and tickets aren't posted yet, so contact the chamber to take part. Sunday, October 4 | 5:00 PM | Bay Shore
SeniorNet Laptop and Tablet Donation Drive (Babylon). Drop off working laptops and tablets, with chargers, at the Babylon Public Library from Thursday through Saturday; SeniorNet wipes and refurbishes them for families in need. A clean way to give an old device a second life. Thursday to Saturday, October 1 to 3 | 9:30 AM | Babylon Public Library, Babylon | Free
Bayport-Blue Point SEED Welcome Back Fundraiser (Bayport). The SEED Foundation's Welcome Back fundraiser runs Thursday, October 8 at People's Pub, and if you register by Friday, October 2 you get a free raffle ticket. Mark the deadline this week. Thursday, October 8 | 6:30 PM | People's Pub, Bayport | $$+
Sayville Library Haunted Teen Central Donation Call (Sayville). The library's teen haunted house (October 14 to 17) is collecting a tricycle, vintage luggage, a nightstand, white towels and sheets, and lacy curtains in clean, good condition. If it's gathering dust in your basement, it could set a scene. Contact the Sayville Library to drop off. Ongoing | Sayville Library, Sayville | Free
📣 See something around town more neighbors should know about, a new resource or a helpful program? Hit reply and tell us.
This one belongs to the second chances: a feast back on Main Street, a fair a week late and none the worse for it, a pumpkin day that gets its turn. The South Shore knows how to reschedule and still throw a good weekend.
See you out there.