Special Events
One of the highlights of the summer is East Hampton Fire Department fireworks display at Main Beach, usually held the Saturday night closest to July 4. The fireworks displays have generated controversy since 2005. In 2005, 2007, and 2008 they were postponed until Labor Day weekend because of the endangered Piping Plover, which were nesting on the beach nearby. Village administration has since postponed the fireworks display to Labor Day weekend indefinitely for years to come.
A big draw in the summer had also been the shark fishing tournaments in Montauk. However in 2007 the Humane Society and other organizations have been protesting the cruelty of the tournament
Each Summer, the Artists and Writers Softball Game, a charity benefit, is held. Past players include John Irving, Norman Mailer, Kurt Vonnegut, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Clinton, and singer Paul Simon.
Every October the town hosts the Hamptons International Film Festival, a rather large production with independent films shown in several local theatres. It has a fairly large draw from the New York City crowd.
Read more about this topic: East Hampton (town), New York
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