Montauk Pioneer - October 10, 2008 - Come To The Fall Festival!

Montauk's 27th Annual Fall Festival sponsored by the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, to be held on the Village Green between 10-4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th promises to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever.

Executive Director, Laraine Creegan, Karin Wanag, Assistant to the Director and Pat Shea, Event Coordinator have planned an extraordinary two day event for this beautiful time of year where locals, their guests and visitors of all ages will enjoy and even participate in many, various special activities.

For the first time the famous Montauk Clam Chowder Contest held on Saturday will present two awards. Six Judges have been selected from the local media food reviewers, representing Dan's Papers, The Montauk Pioneer, The East Hampton Star, Plum TV etc. Trophies will be awarded for the Judges' Blind Test and for the People's Choice. The exciting Clam Shucking Contest will also be held on Saturday.

Another highlight and magical part of the festivities is the old-fashioned, delightful, and colorful 30 horse carousel sure to enchant the children with laughter and squeals just as it will inspire the adults to reminisce about their past when they reached for the brass ring.

Inflatable rides, carnival games and crab races will delight youngsters as will the pony rides, donated by Deep Hollow Ranch. It will also be the special time of the year to decorate pumpkins and to do face painting.

October-Fest Styled foods, beer and wine will be available while you are being entertained by live bands, which always make this event exceptionally festive.

Another memorable feature will be The Montauk Playhouse Annual Chinese Auction where raffle tickets are drawn.

MPCCF's "wonder gal" the phenomenal Joan Lycke has also planned for live music to entertain the crowds during this most important fundraiser. Beginning Sundays in November, the Playhouse will hold another fundraiser, as part of the "Showhouse Showdown" at the dazzling Panoramic Resort.

A new autumn addition to the festival will be the East End Farm Stands. What a most perfect and practical display this will be. The bountiful and colorful Long Island Farm Stands have inspired renowned Westhampton artist Robbi Goldberg to capture many of the Eastern Long Island stands in her stunning series for the LI Farm Bureau.

Besides all of the fantastic recreation and entertainment there will be a "Cash Catch Raffle!" Winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The following is the list of cash prizes: 1st Place-$25,000, 2nd Place-$10,000, 3rd Place-$5,000, 4th-8th Place-$1,000, and 9th-18th- $500. If the 2,000 tickets expected to be sold have not been sold, the cash prizes will be adjusted accordingly.

To top off the festival everyone is invited to watch the Grucci Fireworks on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at Umbrella beach.

Who says, "Montauk falls asleep after Labor Day?"