5 festivals to enjoy on Staten Island this August: Food, music, shopping and the Richmond County Fair

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As summer wraps up and leaves start to fall, human instinct compels us to gather up the great outdoors — and just celebrate life.

If you didn’t already notice, Staten Island is a melting pot of great ideas, artistic flair, enormous talent and off-beat eats. And these cool things about the borough and its people come together at our great gatherings.

Did we miss an upcoming event on this list? Did you just add one to your organization’s schedule? We’ve certainly got you at the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.

Send the festival “who, what, where, when and why” to silvestri@siadvance.com and we’ll pencil you in for sure. And, after the event, send your feedback in a “critique” of the event.

Here are some fun outings with which to mark a calendar below. (And for a round up of summer through fall events and what’s to come, click here.)

Saturday, Aug. 3, in Stapleton

Music Festival by Marker Park Radio

Chill from 6 to 11 p.m. at 450 Front St. at Maker Space and Maker Park Radio for Lee Fields, Snacktime and Staten Island’s own, The Jazztronauts. For tickets and more information, go to Eventbrite.com or the community streaming radio host and black smithers at MakerParkRadio.com.

Sunday, Aug. 11, through the South Shore

Taste of the Towns Restaurant Crawl

Take a trolley through the South Shore for a three-hour tour with multiple stops. This is sponsored by the South Shore BID and is a premium event — southshorebid.org.

Saturday, Aug. 17 in St. George

All Things Vintage Market

Hosted at the Empire Outlets on Levels One and Two at 55 Richmond Terr. from 2 to 8 p.m., the family-friendly event on National Thrift Shop Day will feature DJ music with an R&B vibe. Edibles for sale include ice cream, cold beverages and soul food from Hazel’s Food Truck by the Ferry.

Shop for vintage stuff — and you can bring things to sell and swap, too, so long as they’re in good condition and a ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s throwback themed. Raffle results announced starting at 3:30 p.m. — a $200 Visa gift card and, separately, a wellness/beauty basket. For more info and a raffle entry, go to sponsor’s site at createdforyouartistsmarket.com.

Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, in Richmond

Richmond County Fair

A three-day annual affair at Historic Richmond Town is always the place to see and be seen. This year, features War Cannon Spirits and Crown Point Coffee House as an exhibitor. Vendors still can apply for a stand. Ticket monies go toward programming for the Staten Island Historical Society — HistoricRichmondTown.org.

Throughout August, Staten Island Sounds of Summer

The Staten Island borough president’s office offers a host of outdoor music by local groups.

Here’s the lineup for the rest of the summer:

• Thursday, Aug. 8, Historic Richmond Town, Clarke Ave./Town Hall Grass, Kizmet, The Dexters, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 17, Midland Beach Plaza, Seaview Avenue and Capodanno Boulevard, Vito Picone & The Elegants and Friends, 7 p.m.; fireworks to follow
• Thursday, Aug. 22, Silver Lake Park, Forest Avenue and Haven Esplanade, The Rotary Dials, The Resistance, 7 p.m.