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Grab your cowboy boots, dust off your best hat and get ready to do-si-do through downtown Port Jefferson this weekend.
The village is going country with its first-ever Port Jefferson Country Music Festival, taking place Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13.
The two-day celebration is the first major event organized by the newly created Port Jeff Events Committee, a subgroup of the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.
And organizers are hoping the festival becomes more than just a place to listen to country music. They want it to get people shopping, eating, dancing and discovering some of the businesses tucked along the village’s streets.
The idea was pitched back in January by committee chair Jena Turner, who also owns Breathe on East Main Street. The group was looking for a new event that could draw people into Port Jefferson while tapping into the growing popularity of country music.
With America’s 250th anniversary approaching, organizers saw an opportunity to celebrate with something that would get people smiling, moving and spending time together.
“Country makes people happy,” Turner said.
And after spending the past several months listening to country music while putting the festival together, she has become a believer herself.
“I’ve enjoyed these last nine months of listening to this music,” she said with a laugh.
The festival is designed to turn Port Jefferson into a country-themed playground for the weekend.
Chandler Square will serve as one of the central gathering spots, with line dancing and a mechanical bull among the attractions. There will even be real horses available for photo opportunities.
Local vendors are getting in on the fun, too, offering country-inspired clothing, hats, jewelry and other goods.
But organizers also want visitors to venture beyond the village’s most familiar stretches.
“We want to encourage people to walk through the whole village,” Turner said.
About 20 local businesses will participate with their own activities, specialty drinks and food menus created specifically for the weekend.
There will be plenty for the crafty cowboys and cowgirls, too. Simple Goods will offer custom bandanas, while Breathe will give visitors a chance to paint their own horseshoes for good luck.
Not a fan of Luke Combs or Dolly Parton? Turner said visitors don’t need to know every song or even own a pair of cowboy boots to enjoy the weekend.
She said the festival is ultimately about bringing people together and creating a positive atmosphere.
“Even if country music isn’t your taste, you’re collectively celebrating with others,” Turner said. “It’s a positive energy. What’s better than a weekend in September, celebrating the birth of America, watching dancing, eating great food and listening to music?”
The festival officially gets underway at noon Saturday, Sept. 12, with festivities continuing Sunday, Sept. 13.
Photos from Jenna Turner
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