For The Rest Of Us

Every summer, the villages and hamlets of the East End become inundated as our main streets transform into hotbeds of high-end activity: fancy cars, expensive dining options and premium shopping experiences. As a result, those of us who live and work here on a year-round basis often feel as if we are the forgotten class.

In recent years, the overwhelming influx of wealthy visitors — and the businesses and developments that cater to them — has only grown, leaving many longtime locals scratching their heads as they ask themselves, their friends and their families, “What’s left here for the rest of us these days?”

Well, it turns out that this summer, the answer is quite a bit, thanks to the vision of East Hampton Village and the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce, which are partnering with nonprofit organizations and local musicians to create some good, old-fashioned outdoor fun.

This is truly a big deal: For the first time in living memory, the village is making both Herrick Park and Main Beach available for free, family-friendly entertainment at the height of the busy summer season. A municipality often referred to despairingly as the “Land of No” has had an epiphany of sorts and is now giving residents not one but three reasons to venture out of their homes this summer.

The offerings are varied and plentiful. There’s HamptonsFilm’s classic Wednesday night movie screenings at Herrick Park, which began in early June. Down at the end of Ocean Avenue, the Main Beach Summer Music Series kicks off this week and will bring some of the East End’s most popular music-makers to perform by the sea every Tuesday evening. (Because of the threat of inclement weather, the first concert, by Nancy Atlas, actually takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 8.) Finally, from July 15 to 25, Kate Mueth and the Neo-Political Cowgirls will be at Herrick Park to perform “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged.” Shows will be Thursday through Sunday, and the production is appropriate for all ages.

We hope this series of outdoor summer events is just the start of more good things to come for the year-round community. For far too long, local officials have been unwilling to think outside the box and work with artistic entities to bring cultural happenings to those who call this place home. Maybe it’s a fear of increased traffic, or a lack of personnel to oversee events, but offerings like these are crucial to fostering a sense of belonging, and the sense of place that so many here have come to value.

Gathering with friends and neighbors under the stars for some music, a favorite film or a night of theater is one of those quality-of-life perks that may seem simple on its surface, but ultimately can make the difference between living life to the fullest on the East End, or just surviving.

We vote for making it fun. So when it comes to summer events for the rest of us, let’s make the East End the “Land of Yes.”