“It’s the only event in the world where live bands play from the rooftop of a working lighthouse,” says Pamela Setchell, the president of the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society (HLPS). That event is the Huntington Lighthouse Music Fest, which celebrates its 14th performance this holiday weekend.
On Saturday, September 2, just a half mile from dry land in New York’s Huntington Bay off Long Island Sound, live bands will play from 11 a.m. to dusk for more than 1,000 boats anchored around the historic Huntington Harbor Lighthouse. The bands, seven in all, will perform reggae, Motown, Jimmy Buffet, Santana and more.
The event is free to attendees, but it’s powered by contributions from sponsors and is the HLPS’s largest fundraiser of the year. “We rely on the proceeds for the ongoing preservation of this historic structure,” says Setchell. Huntington Harbor Lighthouse, formerly known as Lloyd Harbor Lighthouse, was established in 1857. The current tower was first lit in 1912; the light was automated in 1949.
“Talent, spirit and a little insanity were needed when we first proposed the idea of a music festival on top of the lighthouse,” says Setchell, who credits the late Donald Davidson for getting the event off the dock. Davidson and his events company HDH Davidson took on the logistical challenges of producing a concert in the middle of the water, battling faulty generators, dodging Nor’easters and working around king tides. This year, that work will be executed by Davidson’s son, Harley.
“Every year the event gets bigger, and the sound gets better,” says Setchell.
Setchell encourages attendees to boat safely at the event.
“It’s important to heed the no-wake zones in Huntington Bay. If you’re not familiar with those, review the chart on our website,” she says. Good anchoring skills are also important, as the concert occurs two days after a full moon and wraps up near low tide. In addition, if your passengers want to swim during the show, ask them to stay close to the boat. “We want everyone to really enjoy the festival, but we want them to be safe too.”
More information on the 14th annual Huntington Lighthouse Music Festival can be found here.
