Winterfest, the award-winning mid-winter festival of music and performing arts, is back. The four-week span of celebrations begins Feb. 24 and continues each weekend through March 19.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Winterfest and organizers have promised a new framework that widens its benefits to the entire East End region of Long Island. In 2017, Winterfest will be managed by a steering committee representing a broad collective of businesses; the committee will reflect economic drivers of the East End including wineries, breweries, restaurants, hotels, performing arts, art galleries, and retail businesses.
Music offered during the festival will be arranged by host venues. In past years, musical offerings covered a wide variety of artists and genres including jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan, rockers the Smithereens and 10,000 Maniacs, the legendary Roomful of Blues, jazz trombonist and Downbeat Magazine award-winner Ray Anderson, Americana sweetheart Amy Helm and Paul Simon’s bassist Bakithi Kumalo.
Winterfest was developed in 2006 as an economic engine to support businesses during the slow winter months. As a trailblazing project that crosses disciplines to include arts, tourism and agriculture, Winterfest was the 2012 recipient of the Arts Destination Marketing Award.
“Winterfest has proven its value to the East End by highlighting the area as an exciting destination through brand recognition,” says Patricia Drake Snyder, Executive Director of East End Arts, a founding partner of the project. “Now as the festival umbrellas to include all activities on the East End, it will be a powerful marketing tool to support the winter economy.”
Participation in Winterfest 2017 is available to all interested businesses. A participation fee of $250 will provide event program and website calendar listings of four events or offerings during the festival. Participants will benefit from robust marketing through social media and collective partner marketing. Participants will also be provided a promotional table at the Winterfest Kick-Off Party taking place on February 24, 2017. Interested businesses can contact Kristen Reyes at or 516-318-6004 or at liwinterfest@eastendarts.org. The deadline for applying is January 18, 2017.
The Winterfest Kick-Off Party is scheduled for Friday, February 24, 2017 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Hotel Indigo East End in Riverhead. The evening will feature music by East End Trio along with tastings by Winterfest-participating local restaurants, vineyards and breweries. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. Tickets are available at http://liwinterfest.com/kick-off-party-at-hotel-indigo-feb-24-2017/. Limited vendors tables will be available and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Vendors will be required to provide a basket or item for a Chinese auction. Hotel Indigo East End is located at 1830 West Main Street, Route 25, Riverhead, NY 11901, 631-369-2200, indigoeastend.com.
Advertising opportunities in the Winterfest program (distribution of 10,000) are available. For ad sheets, contact Diane Tucci, Winterfest Marketing Coordinator, at dtuccimedia@gmail.com or 631-591-0722. Deadline for purchasing advertising is January 18, 2017.
More information about Winterfest can be found at liwinterfest.com and at facebook.com/liwinterfest. Questions may be directed to Diane Tucci, or Kristen Reyes at liwinterfest@eastendarts.org.
Source: Press release issued by East End Arts dated Dec. 22, 2016.