A Halloween party on Fire Island
Cherry’s in Cherry Grove dressed up its awning with a Halloween monster to mark its party held on Sept. 27. CJ’s Restaurant and Bar in Ocean Beach will host a Halloween bash of its own on Friday, Oct. 24. Credit: Ian J. Stark
Oct. 31 may be weeks away, but over on Fire Island, the late-night Halloween scene is already rolling.
While most Long Island nightspots haven't officially announced what sort of spooky-themed get-togethers are in the works for this year, Cherry’s (Bayview Walk, Cherry Grove, 631-597-7859) already threw its Halloween shindig on Sept. 27 — but, as late October falls somewhat outside the seasonal calendar employed by most Fire Island communities, it’s not unusual to find FI venues going early when it comes to throwing events marking cold-weather holidays. However — the recent Cherry’s soiree aside — there is still at least one solid costume party possibility yet to take place across the bay before November begins.
As it has done annually for the past two seasons, CJ's Restaurant and Bar in Ocean Beach (479 Bay Walk) will be hosting a Halloween bash, and this year it’s set for Friday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m. Guests will receive a two-hour free buffet (5 p.m.-7 p.m.) and half-priced special cocktails for four hours (5 p.m.-9 p.m.). Prizes will be given to those whose getups are deemed “sexiest” and “scariest,” and there will be a costume contest that promises an award of $1,000 for the best-dressed ($250 for second-place, $150 for third) — and no worries about rushing to the docks for a ferry, as rooms can be had at The Palms Hotel (168 Cottage Walk, Ocean Beach) starting at $199. (As of this writing, the last commuter boat scheduled to leave Ocean Beach on Oct. 24 takes off at 8:10 p.m.)
For more information or to make reservations, call 631-583-8870 or visit palmshotelfireisland.com.
