Arts & Culture News » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

As a longtime journalist and author, Linda Leuzzi has always had an eye for the telling detail, the barely noticeable tidbit that makes a story memorable.

Books & Authors

South Shore Sites Play a Role in Linda Leuzzi’s Latest Novel, “Car Dogs”

Posted on September 1, 2026

Heather Arnold

Meet the Cover Artist: Heather Arnold

Posted on August 31, 2026

Friday, August 28 (7 p.m.) Lilacs & Roses: Book Signing and Poetry Reading The Babylon Village Historical Society and the Babylon Village Arts Council invite you to an evening of poetry, inspiration, and celebration at the Babylon Village Museum, 117 W Main St., Babylon. Local published poets Cheryl Babirad and Christie Leigh Babirad will read poems aloud and chat with participants. Join the community’s creative side at this fun evening event! This event is FREE and open to all! For details, visit babylonvillagehistoricalsociety.org.

As August Turns Into September: What To Do This Weekend and the Week Ahead on Fire Island and Along the Great South Bay

Posted on August 27, 2026

Music brings people together, and no event on Long Island does it better than the Great South Bay Music Festival. Now in its 18th year, the festival featured 55 bands, including nationally recognized acts such as Sublime, Bruce Hornsby, and Government Mule; local favorites Kerry Kearney Band, IRIEspect, and Firetog and Co.; and fresh faces like the Farmingdale School of Rock House Band and Anything Ever, who won their spot in a highly competitive Battle of the Bands sponsored by WEHM. Music fans came from all over the island, New York City, and beyond to enjoy the music, the sunshine, and the communal spirit this festival embodies.

Great South Bay Music Festival 2026

Posted on August 25, 2026

Can sports bridge trust and mend the past within different communities? On Fire Island, the official Cherry Bowl Tournament has helped mend wounds of distrust with a competitive volleyball game between Cherry Grove’s Grovettes and the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Coppettes since 1984.

sports

The Annual Cherry Bowl Tournament: Over 40 Years of Building Community Trust on Fire Island

Posted on August 24, 2026

Get ready to lace up your running shoes for the third annual JKW Live Well Foundation 5K run/walk, taking place in Bay Shore on Saturday, Sept. 19.

sports

JKW Live Well Foundation to Hold 3rd Annual 5K Run on Sept. 19

Posted on August 21, 2026

In 1927, five determined swimmers set out to swim across the Great South Bay. One hundred years later, the Maggie Fischer Memorial Cross Bay Swim is a nationally treasured event that has raised over a million dollars for the Hospice Care Network's Children and Family Bereavement Program and funds an annual scholarship at St. Anthony’s High School. The 5.6-mile trek from the Fire Island Lighthouse to Gilbert Park in Brightwaters is no easy feat — yet over 100 athletes conquer it every summer.

sports

100 Years of Swimming Across the Great South Bay: The Maggie Fischer Memorial GSB Cross Bay Swim 2026

Posted on August 15, 2026

On July 26, thousands of runners and supporters converged on Fire Island for the fourth annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk, an event that has grown nearly tenfold since its debut and is now raising questions about how much the barrier island can absorb.

sports

Tunnel to Towers 5K: The The Race Draws more than 1600 Runners to the Fire Island Village, but Questions About Capacity Arise

Posted on August 14, 2026

Immerse yourself in the whimsical world of William Shakespeare, right in your own neighborhood! Each summer, in addition to art classes, concerts, movie nights, and showcases, the Islip Arts Council (IAC) presents a free Shakespeare in the Park series throughout the Town of Islip. This year, a small group of actors from Studio Theatre of Long Island will enchant audiences with their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A Summer Night Full of Magic and Shakespeare with the Islip Arts Council

Posted on August 13, 2026

John Searles has worn just about every hat the publishing world offers: novelist, editor, book critic, television pundit, and, perhaps most importantly, a passionate reader. After years of helping shape books and magazines, including a long stint at Cosmopolitan, he has written five unforgettable novels: Boy Still Missing, Strange But True (later adapted into a feature film), Help for the Haunted, Her Last Affair, and now Single Girls, a sharp, funny, and heartfelt fictionalization of Helen Gurley Brown's (HGB) first years at the helm of Cosmopolitan.

Books & Authors

Cake or Pie? with John Searles

Posted on August 13, 2026

Kawaii Art Workshop Saturday, August 8 (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) Kids can explore the playful world of Kawaii art during a beginner-friendly workshop hosted by the Islip Arts Council on Saturday, August 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The one-hour class will introduce young artists to the fundamentals of Kawaii-style drawing, including color, shapes, shading, and technique. Students will learn how to create adorable Kawaii-style animals and objects while building the skills needed for further study of the art form. The class costs $25 and will take place at the Islip Arts Council’s Offices & Gallery at South Shore Mall in Bay Shore, next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Summer in August: Things To Do this Weekend and the Week Ahead Along the Great South Bay and on Fire Island

Posted on August 6, 2026

Last Ferry, First Lady once again brought exceptional cabaret, theater, and music to Fire Island’s historic stage. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and yes, something blue.

Last Ferry, First Lady: Rose Levine Keeps Cherry Grove Singing

Posted on August 4, 2026

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