Help Brainstorm Ideas to Extend Tourist Season

The Southold Economic Development Committee wants your ideas. 

On Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. the committee will hold a meeting with the North Fork Promotion Council in an effort to vet out ideas that will help bring tourists to the area Veteran's Day weekend, Nov.8 to Nov. 11. 

The two groups hope to target visitors through a major public relations effort, called "Taste North Fork," which is being paid for through a $335,000 Empire State Development grant.

The grant was awarded after representatives from Tanger Outlets, the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center and the Long Island Wine Council got together to apply for it. 

The funding, which will be divvied up between the North and South Forks, needs to be spent before Dec. 31.

Already, the Hampton Jitney has agreed to provide free bus routes Veteran's Day weekend, which will run in two loops, from Riverhead to Love Lane in Mattituck, and from Mattituck to Greenport.

In addition, the Long Island Rail Road said it will extend its service to Greenport through Veterans Day weekend.

All that's needed now, the groups said, are ideas to entice people to come. Those ideas should be brought to the Oct. 7 meeting, which will be held at Peconic Lane Community Center. 

Patch wants to know: What ideas do you have to bring tourists to the North Fork this November? Comment below. 

Related Reading: 

• Businesses Asked To Get Involved in 'Taste North Fork'