Speed limit for boats lowered for festival

A temporary 5-mile-per-hour speed limit for a 1-mile radius around the Huntington Lighthouse in all waters controlled by Huntington Town will be in place to help control crowds during the yearly music festival.

The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society is hosting its annual music festival Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The rain date is Sept. 2.

“Reducing the speed is an effort to help control crowds of boats,” said town spokesman A.J. Carter, adding that boaters sometimes try to speed out after similar kinds of events to avoid traffic.

The town board approved the speed limit Tuesday and it will be enforced by the town harbor master and Suffolk County police. The speed limit will be in effect during festival hours only.

The speed limit is usually 40 miles per hour.