Thursday, Aug. 3, will mark this season’s third installment of Alive After Five in Patchogue.
Here are some things to know before you go:
• For the uninitiated, the festival is held along Main Street from West Avenue to near Rider Avenue, as well as portions of South Ocean and Railroad avenues. Each festival runs from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., though live music and the serving of alcohol in the outdoor corrals will be cut off at 9 p.m.
• In anticipation of their Long Island debut at Patchogue Theatre, performers from Cirque Éloize iD will be performing at 5:30 p.m. in front of the theater at 71 East Main Street.
• The National Weather Service is forecasting ideal Alive After Five weather: partly sunny with highs around 80 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Still stay hydrated. Insider Tip: Berry Good Yogurt Café sells water for $1 per bottle.
• The shuttles are the best option to avoid traffic and parking issues. They run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. from St. Joseph’s College and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel R.C. Church in Patchogue. One more shuttle is being added to each location for the two August Alive After Five festivals.
• Organizers tell us Mt. Carmel is the move, with shorter lines and shorter travel time back and forth. The church property is located at 495 North Ocean Avenue.
• Each AA5 installment has a theme, and the theme for 2017’s third festival is A Salute to Our Armed Forces.
• Related to that, the immensely popular (and nationally known) West Point Band is performing at the Aug. 3 Alive After Five at the Capital One Plaza, a block west of Rider Avenue.
The band, which plays anything from patriotic songs from the 1920s to the 1940s, to contemporary pop, rock, hip hop and R&B, first performed at Alive After Five last summer.
• The area to be for kids and families has been moved from Capital One Plaza this week and over to the other side of Main Street, at the newly renovated Carnegie Library at 160 West Main Street. There will be music and activities provided by Patchogue-Medford Library.
• For parents of small children, after 6:30 p.m. it becomes increasingly hard to navigate strollers through the crowds along the center of Main Street especially. Try sticking closer to the family section.
• The brand-new Record Stop at 30 Railroad Avenue has been booking some great bands for Alive After Five. Consider heading off Main Street to check them out.
• If any one festival were to be called off because of rain, the make-up date is Aug. 24.
• Many of the art-related activities happen near the District Court building at 150 West Main Street.
• The last Alive After Five of summer is happening on Thursday, Aug 17. (Again, rain date Aug. 24.)
• Alive After Five’s official website is aliveafterfive.com.
• Every corral for those drinking alcohol will have recycling bins for people to toss out their plastic Solo-style cups.
Featured photo: JT Koops of Island Wide Entertainment at the July 20 Alive After Five.
Photo Credit: Michael White/GreaterPatchogue file photo
