17th Annual Mosaic Festival Scheduled For Downtown Riverhead

One of Riverhead's most eagerly anticipated events is only a month away.

East End Arts will once again host the 17th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival on Sunday, May 26 from noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Riverhead.

The festival features street painting, an art form dating back to 16th century Italy  called “I Madonnari," where street painters created works of art in front of cathedrals to pay homage to the Virgin Mary.

Over the years, street painters at the Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival have created masterpieces ranging in creativity from pop culture to historical figures, portraits to landscapes, comedy to tragedy. 

The event also features a fine arts and crafts fair, live music on the Riverhead's showmobile, face painting, a drum circle, gourmet food trucks, arts, crafts, and music activities for kids and adults.

After 5 p.m., an "after party" concert is scheduled for the Suffolk Theater, headlined by Who Are Those Guys? Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the show starts at 7 p.m. General admission tickets cost $10. 

New for children this year is a Festival Passfort for kids. The passport will help the little ones to explore the many activities offered throughout the festival. Children can get a stamp by stopping at different stations and participating in the activities. A completed passport will entitle kids to a five percent discount on one group class at the East EndArts School. 

For more information, to register to be a street painter, or for an artist vendor application, click here.

The event traditionally brings over 5,000 local residents and tourists to downtown Riverhead for the Memorial Day weekend festivities. In case of rain, the event will be held on Monday, May 27, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.