Things to do in Fire Island this fall 

The pompom of people may have shrunk to a tassel, the symphony of sound quieted to a quartet, and the break dance of activity calmed to a waltz, but much of Fire Island is still open for business through Columbus Day, and in some cases, even Halloween.

Why venture to the barrier island when it’s no longer the summer season?

"Are you kidding me? To come to walk the beach, to just sit and look at the ocean? Why not?" says Seda Azarian, 65, a supervisor at the Metropolitan Opera in Manhattan who is in Ocean Beach on a September afternoon checking fall hotel rates.

Day trippers also still find it easy to come out, though during the fall the ferries travel less frequently. Some, like Gina Ryan, 69, of Islip, and her friends Dori Phalen, 65, of Islip and Lorraine Kersting, 69, of East Islip, don’t even plan to walk the beach during their one-day visit to Ocean Beach. "We like to see if there are any good sales," Ryan says on a September afternoon. They plan to eat lunch outdoors on the bay at the Island Mermaid, shop the boutiques around the village green and get a Rocket Fuel, Fire Island’s signature cocktail, at CJ’s before heading home.

Advantages abound during September and October on Fire Island, visitors and business owners say. "It’s less crowded, that’s the biggest draw," says Joe DiFrancisco, Ocean Beach village administrator. Because it’s the off season, prices to stay at a hotel or to rent a house for a week fall, in some cases by a quarter to a half, owners say. Many restaurants and shops may stay closed early in the week but reopen each Thursday through the weekends. Shops have sales on clothing, though most still charge full price for any items that say "Fire Island." The weather is still good, the ocean water is still warm and getting a restaurant reservation is a snap. In addition, special events and offers throughout the fall give people a reason to be excited about a visit. The main disadvantage is the lack of lifeguards on the beach, visitors say.

Some Fire Islanders go so far as to boldly contend that Columbus Day is the new Labor Day and should now be considered summer’s finish line. "Columbus Day is more the official end now," says Jon Randazzo, owner or co-owner of the Palms Hotel, CJ’s and Castaway restaurants and the Ocean Beach Trading market, all in Ocean Beach. CJ’s, Castaway and Houser’s restaurant/bars throw a joint Halloween Party on Oct. 19, reaching even beyond Columbus Day.

"There’s definitely a bit of concerted effort to build up things to do in the postseason for homeowners and visitors, no question about it," says Scott Hirsch, co-president of the Ocean Beach Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Island Mermaid restaurant, which hosted its fourth annual Miss Isle of Fire contest on Sept. 7. "It’s like ‘Build it and They Will Come.’ One of the main objectives of the Chamber of Commerce is to develop ways to extend the season not only in the beginning of the season in the spring, but also in the fall."

The Palms Hotel, for instance, is offering 30% off rooms and suites through Sept. 30. The Blue Waters hotel rooms are closed, but its apartments and houses are still rentable at half price. Weekly private house rentals are offered at a "significant decrease" from the prime season rate, at a minimum 25% off, says Alyssa Caravella, a salesperson at Fire Island Sales and Rentals, which covers homes from Ocean Bay Park to Kismet. "As you get closer to Columbus Day, prices get less and less," she says. It’s an opportunity for empty nesters or couples who don’t have children in school to experience Fire Island "without the craziness of the crowds," she says.

While Ocean Beach is the unofficial capital of the 17 communities on the barrier island, other smaller communities are also stretching their seasons. The Boatel in Kismet, which is open through October, drops its rates "dramatically," says property manager Dan McKenna. Restaurants such as the Kismet Inn are open daily through September and then weekends even as late as the first weekend in November. In Cherry Grove, Top of the Bay is open most days in September and then Fridays through Sundays until the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, says owner Ron King.

"I love the peace and quiet," says Donna Knoth, who grew up in East Islip and spent eight summers as a mother’s helper and house cleaner on Fire Island. A few years ago, she visited just after July Fourth. "It was mobbed with people. This is much nicer," she says. And she says she likes that the children are back in school, so weekdays are especially calm.

"I’d rather have it like this than constantly be bumping into people while I walk," says Joe Golan, 44, of Ridge, who works in maintenance and is in the village of Ocean Beach with his wife, Danielle, a real estate agent, and their twins, Nova and Nola, 2.

Victoria Colombo, 59, a West Islip dentist, sits on the beach on a recent afternoon. "We come every September after Labor Day," she says. "We ride bikes, eat, walk, laugh, go shopping."

Fall events from Fire Island National Seashore

Fire Island National Seashore is offering fall events throughout the National Park into October. "The bugs are down, and the sun keeps shining," Doug Biviano, co-concessionaire at Watch Hill, says of the post-Labor Day season on the barrier island.

Here’s a roundup of reasons to grab a sweatshirt and head on over to one of the national seashore venues.

Explore the Sunken Forest

Rangers walk with groups through the maritime forest, telling them about the trees and wildlife found there. The tour begins at 11:30 on select upcoming weekend dates: Sept. 29 and Oct. 5, 6, 12 and 13. It’s free, and no preregistration is required. The adjacent Sailor’s Haven general store and snack bar are also open on weekends through Columbus Day. And of course, there’s the beach — but be aware there are no lifeguards after Labor Day. 631-281-3010, nps.gov/fiis

Trek 14 miles of Fire Island

Visitors can walk a great length of the island, led by volunteer naturalists on Oct. 14, says Chris Olijnyk, a park ranger. The free 14-mile trek will start at Watch Hill and end at the Fire Island Lighthouse. Visitors should take the 10:15 a.m. ferry to Watch Hill from Patchogue.

The hike will conclude at about 5 p.m., Olijnyk says.

Preregistration is required; 631-281-3010, nps.gov/fiis.

Hike to Old Inlet

Don’t want to tackle the whole island? A volunteer naturalist will lead a 4-mile round-trip hike from the Wilderness Visitor Center at Smith Point County Park along the ocean to Old Inlet. Participants will learn about the breach that created the site in 2012 and about the forces of waves and wind. The hike leaves at 9 a.m. on Oct. 14 from the Wilderness Center. No preregistration is required. 631-281-3010, nps.gov/fiis.

Attend a Lighthouse special event

An evening tower tour is set for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 21; it’s a guided tour to see the sunset and costs $25. A behind-the scenes tour from the lighthouse basement to the top and the boathouse and lens building takes place at 9 a.m. on Oct. 12; it costs $20. The annual Lantern Light Tours leave every 15 minutes from Field 5 at Robert Moses State Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18; groups are led along the beach by lantern and wind up in the Lighthouse Keeper’s Quarters. That costs $15 per person and doesn’t include climbing the tower, though the tower will be open for tours for an additional $10 per adult or $5 per child 12 and under. Children must be 42 inches tall to climb. All events require preregistration. The lighthouse tower is also open daily year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, says Patti Stanton, director. 631-583-5901; fireislandlighthouse.com.

Visit Watch Hill

Watch Hill marina is open on weekends through Columbus Day, as is the general store and the food truck restaurant and bar, Biviano says. There’s live music from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through September. On Columbus Day weekend Watch Hill has an end of the season party, Biviano says, with DJs on Saturday and Sunday nights. No lifeguards after Labor Day. 631-597-6073, lovefins.com.