Tents Available for Businesses During 'Taste North Fork'

As the countdown begins for the big 'Taste North Fork' event on Veterans Day weekend, businesses who might not have easy access for tourists will be able to set up in tents near two big transportation hubs.

The North Fork Promotion Council, as well as the Town of Southold Economic Development Council and its members, are setting up a tent in Mitchell Park in Greenport, and one at the Mattituck Long Island Rail Road station — two of the major hubs for the free Hampton Jitney bus loops that will be running from Orient to Greenport over the three-day event.

The tents are for businesses who may be located off the loops and want to be in the heart of the action. A voluntary contribution of $50, or whatever business owners can afford, to defray costs may be requested.

Interested businesses, prefereably agri-tourism related preferably, should contact Gene Gluck at gene.gluck@northfork.org.

In other 'Taste North Fork' news, County Executive Steve Bellone, members of the East End Tourism Alliance, and local officials will host a press conference Wednesday to kick off the  “hop-on and hop-off” tourism transportation initiative, aimed at allowing visitors to enjoy North Fork activities during the shoulder season.

The South Fork featured a similar event over Columbus Day weekend, which also offered free shuttle service; both were made possible by an Empire State development grant. 

The program includes special tastings, events, discounts and live music at the wineries. Special weekend discount offers will also be provided by hotels, bed & breakfasts, inns, restaurants, hamlet shops and attractions, and a full slate of activities will be offered.

The free Jitney service will be divided in two loops — a Riverhead loop, for stops between Riverhead and Love Lane in Mattituck, and  a Greenport loop, for stops between Mattituck and Greenport. The shuttles will circulate every 35 to 45 minutes with passenger access from the Long Island Rail Road station in Mattituck and the Cross Sound Ferry terminal in Orient Point. 

The project is supported by a grant awarded to the East End Tourism Alliance by New York State’s Empire State Development and the I ♥ NY Division of Tourism under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative.