The summer season on Long Island is typically the busiest time of year for families looking to get out of the house together.
From Manhattan to Montauk, there are plenty of events to choose from to enjoy the warm weather with your family and find activities everyone will enjoy. The events that tends to draw a sizable crowd are local fairs and festivals – and Long Island has plenty of those all summer long.
Here are some of the events that will be happening across Long Island the next few weeks:
July
The Long Island Summer Festival: Happening Friday, July 12, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, July 13, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., the Long Island Summer Festival will be taking place at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove. The festival will host hundreds of local vendors and have a wide variety of food options. It will also feature a carnival-like experience, which includes rides and Long Island’s only Hot-Air Balloon trips. Tickets are on sale now and are available online, along with more information, at www.longislandfestival.com. Children 12-and-under are free to enter, while all others will be charged $5 to get in.
Babylon Block Party: This year’s first date for the Babylon Block Party already took place last month, so if you missed out on June’s event, you won’t want to make the same mistake this month. July’s Babylon Block Party will be held on Thursday, July 18, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. along Deer Park Avenue. The festivities include live music and outdoor dining, as well as games, vendors, artisans and bouncy houses for the kids to enjoy. If you can’t make it out to Babylon on July 18, don’t worry, another block party will be happening on Aug. 29. Admission to the event is free for all ages.
Great South Bay Music Festival: The 13th annual music festival is back at Shorefront Park in Patchogue again, with live performances happening all weekend long from July 18 to July 21. The Great South Bay Music Festival features over 60 performers on four different stages, including 2018 Long Island Music Hall of Fame inductee Taking Back Sunday, of Levittown. The festival also features an artisan markets for those interested in arts and crafts and a fun and educational KIDZONE. Tickets are required for admission and can be purchased online at www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com.
Rockaway Beach Boardwalk Art Craft & Gift Fair: For those who love to shop-till-you-drop, this event is an opportunity for you to shop local from established artisans and high-quality craft and gift vendors along the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk. The fair is happening Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along with additional dates in the future (Aug. 17-18, Sept. 14-15) in case you’re busy all weekend. Admission and parking to attend the event as a customer are both free of charge. For more information, head to www.rockawaybeachboardwalk.com.
Taste of Montauk: The Montauk Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 7th annual Taste of Montauk event on Sunday, July 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will be held on the Great Lawn of Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina and will feature locally produced craft beers, Long Island wine, and plenty of food from restaurants located at the end of Long Island’s south fork. The event is 21-plus and tickets are $85 in advance or $95 on the day of the event, if available. For more information, visit www.montaukchamber.com.
August
Garvies Point Museum Day: Glen Cove’s Garvies Point Museum and Preserve will be hosting its Museum Day on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will be fun and educational for all ages and includes insect studies, nature walks, bird-watching, paper-making workshop, butterfly gardens, rock and mineral identifications, movies and more. Admission to Museum Day is $5 for those aged 5 and up. More information can be found at www.garviespointmuseum.com.
Massapequa Park Village Street Fair: From Sunrise Highway to Clark Boulevard, Massapequa Park will once again be hosting its annual street fair on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s fair features more than 150 vendors down Park Boulevard, live entertainment, children’s rides, a rock-climbing wall, mechanical bull, clam shucking, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, plenty of food and a slapshot booth, courtesy of the New York Islanders. Admission to the event is 100 percent free and if it rains, there’s no need to worry, the rain date is scheduled for the following Sunday, Aug. 11.
Sayville Summerfest: An art show, a classic car show, a four-mile run and live musical performances are just some of the exciting things you can find at this year’s Sayville Summerfest. Hosted by the Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce, Sayville Summerfest will be happening all weekend from Friday, Aug. 9, to Sunday, Aug. 11. In addition to everything already listed, Sayville Summerfest will also feature over 200 craft and food vendors, rides, games and a beer and wine tasting tent. For more information, including the full schedule of live musical performances, head to www.sayvillechamber.com.
Italian Festival in New Hyde Park: New Hyde Park is hosting its annual Italian Festival for five days in late August, from Wednesday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 25. The festival features plenty of Italian dishes, along with zeppoles, pastries, famous stuffed cellinis, rides, games, live music and much more. On Saturday, Aug. 24, a fireworks show will be held at night. The festival costs just $1 for adults to enter and on Sunday, Aug. 25, admission is free for community appreciation day, the final day of the festival. Also part of community appreciation day are half-priced pasta dishes until 5 p.m. The festival will be held at Michael J. Tully Park from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. More information can be found through Cellini Lodge 2206 on its website, www.cellinilodge2206.org.
