The North Fork weekend guide: Mardi Gras, BBQ chicken and Shakespeare

Looking for something nearby and affordable to do this weekend? Here is a list of events happening locally, including the much-anticipated Riverhead Summer Mardi Gras Festival.

Also, you can always check out our weekly calendar, located under the community section tab on our homepage.

Featured Events:

• The first-ever Riverhead Summer Mardi Gras Festival kicks off Saturday with a parade down Main Street at noon.The event’s organizers, members of the Riverhead Business Improvement District, hope it will fill the void left by the Riverhead Blues Festival.

The fun continues after the parade with music by many New Orleans-style bands on two stages along the Peconic River from 1 until 11 p.m. And the best part? This event is totally free. For more information visit Riverheadbid.com.

The News-Review will be there so be sure to click back later in the day for photos and video.

• For the theater lovers, check out Northeast Stage’s Shakespeare-in-the-park “Romeo and Juliet” at Greenport’s Mitchell Park. These free performances will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday begining at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket.

Check out photos from the dress rehearsal right here.

• The North Fork Theatre Company will continue its summer 2011 Youth on Stage Production of ‘Footloose!’ Performances will be held at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Old Sound Avenue theater. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 298-NFCT or by visting NFCT.COM. You can read our review of the play here and check out photos from the dress rehearsal here.

• Baiting Hollow Congregational Church’s Annual Chicken BBQ will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The church is located at 2416 Sound Ave. Tickets are $18 advance, $20 at door, and kids under 12 are $12 advance and $14 at door. The menu includes half-chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, rolls, watermelon and more. Call Sandy at 369-4318 for info or tickets. The rain date is Sunday, Aug. 7.

Other Events:

Friday, August 5

Southold Mothers’ Club’s private aquarium tour, 9 a.m., guided tour, sea lion show and sea shore program with explanation of 5 sea animals. Adults-$18.50 + tax, kids 3-7 SMC will pay admission only for members, kids 2 & under free. RSVP required to Indira Schwarting at [email protected].

Friends annual book sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Cutchogue New Suffolk Library, Main Road, Cutchogue. 734-6360.

Kids around the World, 10-10:45 a.m. for ages 3-6, songs, stories and craft with Heather Bitka at Southold Free Library, Main Road. 765-2077.

Movie ‘YiYi,’ 1:30 p.m. at Mattituck-Laurel Library, Main Road, Mattituck. Free. “Sprawling and dazzling,” intimate epic of one Taipei family. Free. 298-4134.

Columbiettes’ annual Money Mania Chinese Auction, 6 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall, 2050 Depot Lane, Cutchogue. Call Ann at 734-5901 for information.

First Fridays Artist Talk series, 6 p.m. at East End Arts Council Gallery and Carriage House, 133 E. Main St., Riverhead. Master printmaker Craig Zammiello, guest juror of EEAC’s exhibit “The Print Show” explores the art of printmaking and more. 727-0900, eastendarts.org.

Anime Night, 6-8 p.m. for teens ages 13-17 at Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court St. Register: 727-3228, ext. 6 or 112, [email protected].

Riverhead summer concert series features Sound Symphony, 7:30 p.m. on grounds of East End Arts Council, 133 E. Main St. Free.

Northeast Stage presents Shakespeare-in-the-Park, ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ 7 p.m. in Mitchell Park, Greenport. With direction by A.D. Newcomer, “sumptuous” Italian Renaissance costumes by Joan Chambers, fight direction by Joseph Winchell with assistance from Alan Stewart, set design by James Pritchard, original music by Kevin Twigg, and choreography by Erin McKenna. Bring lawn chair or blanket, picnics welcome. Free. Donations of any size accepted. 477-2972, 208-6933, [email protected].

First Friday Open Mic Night, 7-10 p.m., part of The Music Project @ at Custer Institute and Observatory with host Liza Coppola, 1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold. 765-2626.

Greenport Band presents outdoor concert, 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Park, Greenport, directed by Colin Van Tuyl. Bring lawn chairs. Free. 553-8443.

Saturday, August 6

The Old Town Art and Crafts Guild’s annual Art and Crafts Show and Chinese Auction, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Village Green, Cutchogue. Live Music, Tuesday morning children’s art group walks down Green Project Runway at 2 p.m., chinese auction drawing 3 p.m. Free Admission. Rain date Aug. 7. 734-6382 or oldtownguild.com.

Huge Half-Off Tag Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at First Universalist Church, Main Road, Southold. Furniture, Xmas (except Santas), new evening bags and more. 765-3494. Rain or shine.

North Fork Garden Group, 9-10:30 a.m. at Mattituck-Laurel Library, Mattituck. Explore organic gardening through guest speakers, seed exchange and sharing of information. To register call Elizabeth: 565-7160.

Annual One Day in History: Shelter Island’s Maritime Past, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., family fun, rain or shine on grounds of the Havens House Museum, 16 South Ferry Road, Shelter Island. 749-0025.

NoFo: Up Close, A Photo Exhibit and Benefit for Kent Animal Shelter, noon-3 p.m. at Peconic Bay Winery, 31320 Main Road, Cutchogue. Admission: $12 in advance, $15 at door, includes one glass of wine/beverage and hors d’oeuvres. Additional glasses of wine $8 with half going to Kent Animal Shelter. Tickets: www.NadlerPhotoDesign.com/NoFo.

Southold Historical Society’s annual Ice Cream Social, 1-4 p.m. at society’s Maple Lane Museum complex, corner of Main Road and Maple Lane, opposite Southold Firehouse. Entrance to grounds is free, food and games require tickets available on site. 765-5500, www.southoldhistoricalsociety.org.

Beginning Basketry, 1-4 p.m. at Poquatuck Park, Village Lane, Orient, hosted by Oysterponds Historical Society. Also 8/13 & 8/20. Fee $70, members $65; includes materials. Register: 323-2480.

North Fork Animal Welfare League’s Summer Barbecue Extravaganza, 3-8 p.m. at the Corso residence overlooking Long Island Sound, 13451 Oregon Road, Cutchogue. Hors d’oeuvres, barbecue, cocktails, live music and dancing. Casual attire. Tickets $95; reserve tables available for parties of ten or more. RSVP requested 765-1811. Detailed information, directions and downloadable RSVP card athttp://www.nfawl.org/events/summer-barbeque-extravaganza.

Evening of folk, bluegrass and swing music to benefit WPKN Radio, 89.5 FM Bridgeport, Saturday, Aug. 6, 5-7 p.m. at Rothman’s Gallery, Main Road, Southold. Music by The Second Hands (Geoff Schroeder and Laura Hoch), Job Potter, Park Avenue Gypsies (Southold Slim, Ron Rothman, Lora Kendall), The Earthtones (Rick Hall and Glenn Jochum). Tickets $12 at door. 298-5540.

Annual Chicken BBQ, 5:30 p.m. at Baiting Hollow Congregational Church, 2416 Sound Ave. Tickets $18 advance, $20 at door, kids under 12, $12 advance, $14 at door. Half-chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, rolls, watermelon and more. Call Sandy at 369-4318 for info or tickets. Takeout available. Rain date Sunday, Aug. 7.

Oysterponds Historical Society’s elegant summer bash, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at bayside home in Orient. Silent art auction and live auction of “chairs” from local artists, architects and designers. Fee $125, call 323-2480 for ticket information.

Shoreham-Wading River Community Band’s ‘Music By The Ponds,’ 7 p.m. at Wading River Congregational Church, 2057 North Country Road, sponsored by SWR Community Programs. Admission free-will offering. Summer Youth Ministry will sell refreshments. Bring blankets or lawn chairs.

North Fork Kids presents Missoula Children’s Theater’s production of ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ 7 p.m. in auditorium at Mattituck High School, Main Road. Tickets at door: adults $10, ages 16 and under $5. 833-0609.

Northfork by Northfork Art Show opening night, 7-9 p.m. with wine, live music on New Suffolk waterfront. Free.

Recital features bass Nick Kilkenny and pianist James Sheppard, 7:30 p.m. at First Universalist Church, Main Road, Southold. Arias from operas, including Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Admission free. 765-3494.

Archeoastronomy of the American Southwest, 8-9 p.m. at Custer Institute & Observatory, 1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold. Archeoastronomy is the study of how past civilizations understood phenomena in the sky, how they used such phenomena and what role the sky played in their cultures. Discussion will include astronomical knowledge and practices of Native Americans, known as “Anasazi,” who lived in the four corners region (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico) in Chaco Canyon 1000 years ago. Other cultures such as the Inca, Maya and Europeans discussed. Presenter: Gordan Ostojic. Suggested donation: $10, $5 Custer/ASLI Members, $5 full-time students. Includes stargazing session after the lecture. 765-2626.

Sunday, August 7

Knights of Columbus in Cutchogue’s Breakfast Buffet, 8:30 a.m.-noon, 2050 Depot Lane. Adults, $8; children, $4. 734-7338.