15 Jun The Ultimate Guide to 2018 Summer Festivals on Long Island
The official start of Summer hits next week, and things are heating up all across Long Island. Whether you’re a native New Yorker or planning a trip to LI, there’s a fair share of Long Island fairs and festivals to add to your itinerary. From the fruit-themed or boozy, to the tremendous numbers of fests featuring local artists and artisans, Summer 2018’s fairs will satisfy all your senses.
Strawberry Festival
June 14-17 | Mattituck
The 64th Annual Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival offers you a chance to try the freshest crop of North Fork strawberries at their peak of ripeness. With strawberry shortcake, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and other confections to tempt your sweet tooth, you’ll be able to listen to local music acts, shop local arts and crafts vendors, watch the Strawberry Queen be crowned, and stroll Mattituck. Each night also ends with a spectacular fireworks show.
Cost: FREE
Mattituckstrawberryfestival.org
North Fork Crush Wine & Artisanal Food Festival
June 23 | Jamesport
Wine lovers, rejoice. North Fork Crush brings together some of the best winemakers in the North Fork winemaking region for a food and wine tasting experience like no other.
Cost: $53.50 – $109
Alive After 5
June 28, July 19, August 2, and August 16 | Patchogue
Alive After 5 is a multi-day experience offering music from local acts on seven different stages, along with food stands, artist booths and plenty of family-friendly activities and acts, including jump rope performers, educational sets, and more.
Cost: FREE
Alive on 25
July 5, 12 & 26 | Riverhead
At the split of the North and South Forks, experience a street fest celebration with all the fixings. Alive on 25 offers live music, a classic car show, local beer, vendors, arts and more. This year, experience new features like a rock climbing wall, Bubble Palooza, and paintball.
Cost: FREE
Great South Bay Music Festival
July 12 – 15 | Patchogue
With 4 stages and acts like Allman Brothers’ Dickey Ratts, Sublime, Umphreys McGee, and all of your favorite local acts, this festival is perfect for kicking back on a summer day.
Cost: $42.50 for general admission; $99 for VIP
greatsouthbay.frontgatetickets.com
Taste the World Festival
July 14 – 15 | Deer Park
This festival will only put you back $5 in admission and offers a world of flavors – literally. Featuring over 45 food vendors, you’ll be able to try culinary delights from around the world while enjoying chef demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, and live music. Located in the Deer Park Tanger Outlets, you can also easily fuel your shopping habit.
Cost: $5
Sweet Corn Festival
July 21 – 22 | Mattituck
Harbes’ Family Farm knows how to throw a food-themed festival, and their annual sweet corn festival is no exception. This free festival offers plenty of chances to eat roasted corn, including multiple eating contests, as well as live music. If you bring the kiddos, stop by the Barnyard Adventure, which includes a Singing Hayride tour of our 100-acre farm, pig races, farm animals, our very popular “Jumbo Jumpers” bounce pillows, a Sports Zone with baseball, football and basketball tossing games, goat mountain slide, and much more. For the adults, stop by the Harbes Wine Barn and taste their award-winning wines.
Cost: FREE
Tomato Festival
August 4 – August 5 | Mattituck
Another can’t miss event from Harbes Family Farm, this tomato-themed festival is sure to have the whole family making a mess with their tomato relay races and tomato rolling competitions as well as potato sack races, tug of war, and other fun games. If you’re feeling competitive, try your hand at a tomato eating contest.
Cost: FREE
Peach Festival
August 18 – August 19 | Mattituck
End the summer on a sweet note with the Harbes Family Farm’s Peach Festival. Find out who will be crowned Harbes Peach King and Queen, watch a peach eating contest, listen to live music, and feast on fresh-picked delicious peaches.
Cost: FREE
Al Horberger Nesconset Street Fair
September 9 | Nesconset
This one-day fair in the heart of downtown Nesconset features family-friendly fun including a petting zoo, bounce houses, and face painting, along with food and crafts vendors.
Cost: FREE
Hofstra University’s Italian Festival
September 16 | Hempstead
Taste the culinary delights of Italy without leaving Long Island. Hofstra University hosts the 26th annual Italian Festival on its campus, where you can sample Italian eats from food vendors. Unlike other festivals of its kind, Hofstra’s celebration places emphasis on all of Italy’s culture, and offers vendors, handmade crafts, exhibits by cultural organizations, music, dance, and poetry.
Cost: $6 Adults/ $5 Seniors/ Free Children Under 12
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Headed to festivals on Long Island this summer? Stay in a perfectly situated location, at the juncture of the North and South Fork. Hotel Indigo East End gives you the ideal jumping off point for your adventures. Book now by calling 631.369.2200.