During the summer, most Long Islanders typically turn to barbecues and grill up their favorite summer foods. While there’s nothing wrong with showing off your skills on the grill, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just your own food.
There are plenty of opportunities to venture out to a local food festival over the next few weeks, whether it’s because you want to try something different or you just don’t feel like cooking a meal that night.
Here are just a few of the upcoming events worth checking out if you’re feeling hungry:
August
Paella Beach Party: The third annual Paella Beach Party will be happening at Lido Beach on Sunday, Aug. 11, from noon to 5 p.m. with plenty of paella to go around. For $60, those 21 and older can feast on unlimited paella and sangria at this year’s party, with tickets for just the paella going for half price at $30. In addition to the paella and sangria buffet, those with tickets can enjoy live Gypsy Kings music by Los Cintron and a flamenco show by Juana Cala. Picnic tables are available on a first come, first serve basis and the beach’s basketball and volleyball courts will be available to use during the party. Tickets can only be purchased through eventbrite.com and must be presented for admission to the party, which is a rain or shine event.
Famous Food Festival: “Taste the World” is the theme at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead on Saturday, Aug. 10, and Sunday, Aug. 11, when the New York City-based Famous Food Festival brings its “Taste the World” festival out to Long Island. More than 50 food vendors will be on hand at the Riverhead festival, after Famous Food Festival held the event last month at the Deer Park Tanger Outlets. It’s recommended that you show up hungry, but if you need more than just food as a reason to attend, there will also be live music, a beer and wine garden, a virtual reality gaming area, a rock wall, chef demonstrations, sports simulators, a butterfly exhibit, aerial trapeze yoga, arts and crafts, prizes and a fireworks show on Saturday night. Admission is just $5 per day and free for kids 10 and younger. For more information on everything that’s going on, check out www.famousfoodfestival.com.
Baconfest: Hosted by Plattduetsche Park Restaurant and Biergarten in Franklin Square, Baconfest is a celebration of all things – you guessed it – bacon. The event features food appetizers, entrees, drinks and dessert based around the pork product and costs just a $5 cover charge to attend. Baconfest is being held Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. at 1132 Hempstead Turnpike in Franklin Square. Those who attend will receive a $5 cover charge payback coupon that can be put toward your meal in the restaurant’s main dining room the following week. Live music will also be performed during the event. For more information on Baconfest, call Plattduetsche Park Restaurant and Biergarten at 516-354-3131.
Long Island Maritime Museum Seafood Festival: For the 27th year in a row, the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville will be hosting the museum’s Seafood Festival during the final week in August — Aug. 24 and 25. Sponsored by Blue Island Oyster Company and Claws Seafood Market, the festival will feature a variety of seafood for attendees to enjoy, including stuffed lobster rolls, shellfish, raw bars, with additional seafood trucks on site and non-fish food options as well. Besides the food, you can also take advantage of the arts and crafts taking place at the festival, as well as taking a look at 1888 Oyster Sloop Priscilla, a National Historic Landmark, and checking out the live entertainment taking place. The cost of admission is $10 per person, with kids under 12 getting in for free. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at a discounted $9 rate by visiting www.limaritime.org. The seafood festival will be happening from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days at 88 West Avenue in West Sayville.
SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival: The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City will be hosting some of the most renowned Peruvian chefs at the SUMAQ Pervuian Food Festival on both Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For just $15, or $7 for kids aged 2 to 12, you get to witness cooking demos from local and award-winning Peruvian chefs, including Jose Luis Chávez, Ezequiel Valencia and Miguel Aguilar. Enjoy some of the finest Peruvian cuisine from over 20 different food vendors, take in live musical performances, and you will also be allowed to enter the Cradle of Aviation Museum during museum hours. For more information on the festival and the Cradle of Aviation Museum, visit www.cradleofaviation.org.
September
Long Beach Oyster Festival: The fourth annual Long Beach Oyster Festival is being held this year on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Beach House in Long Beach. The festival, which is only for those 21 and older, includes three hours of unlimited oysters plus beer and wine from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., as well as live musical performances and the chance to win a free flight from JetBlue at the end of the festival. The event is happening rain or shine and costs $40 to attend. Tickets can be purchased in advance through www.eventbrite.com.
Long Island Garlic Festival: More than 50 vendors will head to the Garden of Eve Farm at 4558 Sound Avenue in Riverhead for the 16th annual garlic festival, happening Sept. 14 and Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vendors in attendance will show off a wide variety of garlic-inspired foods, crafts, music and just plain garlic for those interested to eat or plant on their own. There will also be a garlic eating contest at the festival. Admission to the Long Island Garlic Festival is $10 per person and children under 2 can get in for free. For more information, visit www.gardenofeve.com.
Long Island Apple Festival: One week into the fall, Sherwood-Jayne Farm in Setauket will be hosting the 30th annual Long Island Apple Festival on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Activities and events include live music, open-hearth colonial cooking demonstrations, an apple pie baking contest, pie auctions, apple relay races, tug-o-war and apple-head doll making. There will also be fresh apple juice and apple-based foods, hayrides and pony rides, along with arts and crafts on hand. Those in attendance will also be allowed to take a tour of the historic Sherwood-Jayne House. Adults can get in to the festival for just $7, while seniors and children pay $5. More information can be found at www.preservationlongisland.org.
