20+ things to do this Memorial Day weekend on Long Island
Spectators watch as the Skytypers soar across the sky at Jones Beach. Credit: Steve Pfost
As the weather heats up, Long Islanders are getting ready to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. But what’s there to do? This unofficial start of summer offers a ton of outdoor fun ranging from the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach to a new Paddle Pub in Huntington, plus a host of live entertainment at venues throughout Nassau and Suffolk.
Here are some suggestions to get the season started:
GET ON THE WATER
Paddle Pub Long Island, Patchogue, is a pedal-powered boat for the ultimate party on the water. Photo Credit: Paddle Pub Long Island
Sign up for a Paddle Pub tour from Huntington or Patchogue where you can help power the boat via peddling stations while partying on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at various times. ($45-$65, 631-778-1433, paddlepub.com)
Grab a rod and reel to engage in some fluke fishing on one of Captain Lou’s charterboats or go on a whale watching cruise, both launching from the Nautical Mile in Freeport on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. (fluke) or Monday at 10 a.m. (whale watching). ($55 per person for fluke fishing, $75 per person for whale watching, 516-623-5823, captloufleet.com)
Set sail on a two-hour sunset cruise in Montauk waters with MTK Cruises on Sunday or Monday at 6:30 p.m. or book a Montauk swim tour, which includes a two-hour boat charter and a 20-foot water trampoline. ($300 for two people, 631-668-8079, cruisemontauk.com)
HEAD OUT EAST
Farmer Fred races pigs at the Barnyard Adventure at Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck. Credit: Jeffrey Basinger
Take the kids to Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck to experience the Barnyard Adventure featuring goat mountain slides, super silo obstacle course, gnome hedge maze, duck race games and more all weekend. ($23.95 per person, Harbes Family Farm, 715 Sound Ave., Mattituck, 631-482-7641, harbesfamilyfarm.com)
Relax at the picnic tables at Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue enjoying wine while listening to April Rain on Sunday or Brian Dwyer on Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. and feeding the fish in the pond on the property. (Free entry, 34515 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-4057, pugliesevineyards.com)
Have lunch at Jamesport Vineyards where the bar pours wine by the glass paired with over 10 different wood-fired oven gourmet personal pizzas cooked and served outdoors from the Little Oak Wood-Fired Kitchen. (Free entry, 1216 Main Road in Jamesport, 631-722-5256, jamesportwines.com)
Lounge in an Adirondack chair on the lawn of Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. in Peconic while enjoying some fresh craft brew watching bands like the Second Hands Band on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., the Noiz Band on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. or the Real East End Brass Band on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. (42155 Main Road in Peconic, 631-477-1100, greenportharborbrewing.com)
Take a wine tour at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic on Saturday and Sunday at noon and 2:30 p.m. ($35 per person, 37645 Main Road in Peconic, 631-734-6200, pindar.net)
CATCH A SHOW
See comedian Jim Breuer perform at the Paramount in Huntington. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Laugh at the comedy stylings of comedian Jim Breuer at The Paramount in Huntington on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. ($29.50-$120, 370 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-673-7300, paramountny.com)
Experience psychedelta blues with guitarist Kerry Kearney via Eppy Presents Live at the Metropolitan in Glen Cove on Friday at 8 p.m. ($20-$30, 3 Pratt Blvd. Glen Cove, 516-806-4111, eppypresents.com)
Get a taste of country with the triple bill of Chris Young, Mitchell Tenpenny and Ernest at the Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater at Bald Hill in Farmingville on Saturday at 5 p.m. ($35-$70, 1 Ski Run Lane in Farmingville, 631-676-7500, licommunityhospitalamp.com)
Enjoy some stand-up from comedian Paula Poundstone at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on Saturday at 8 p.m. ($89-$129, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor, 631-725-9500, baystreet.org)
Rock out with the BoDeans at Suffolk Theater in Riverhead on Saturday at 7 p.m. ($45-$55, 118 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-4343, suffolktheater.com)
Honor U.S. active-duty military, veterans and their families at the “Side By Side: A Celebration of Service” concert featuring singer/songwriter John Legend at UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Elmont on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with special guest Jason Derulo. ($55-$210, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, 516-460-8950, ubsarena.com)
HIT THE BEACH
WildPlay zipline and adventure park at Jones Beach State Park. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Look up in the sky and be amazed by the Bethpage Air Show starring the United States Navy Blue Angels at Jones Beach State Park on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ($10 parking fee, 631-321-3510, bethpageairshow.com)
Get active on the adventure course, bungy jump and zip line at Wild Play at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh. ($14.99-$39.99, 2600 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, 1-800-668-7771, wildplay.com)
Attend a morning yoga class with Cyndy Sotomayor at Field 2 on Robert Moses State Park Beach in Babylon on Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. ($20, 631-358-5054, myyogawithcyndy.com)
Participate in the sportsYou Summer Swing Beach Volleyball Tournament at Laurelton Boulevard Beach in Long Beach on Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ($70 per team in advance, $80 after 6 p.m. Friday, 631-355-1293, volleyamerica.com)
Dine al fresco actually on the beach at The Boat Yard overlooking the bay side of TOBAY Beach in Massapequa or at Katch in Lindenhurst on the Great South Bay. (The Boat Yard, 1 Ocean Parkway in Massapequa, 516-324-8474, theboatyardny.com, Katch, 850 Venetian Blvd. in Lindenhurst, katchli.com)
GO TO AN EVENT
Bryan Landsberg originally from Riverhead and now in Astoria, Queens creates an original drawing using chalk at the 18th Annual Community Mosaic Festival in Riverhead. Credit: Randee Daddona
Visit the East End Arts Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival in Riverhead to enjoy food, live entertainment, artisan vendors, kids zone or purchase an artist square ($20 in advance, $25 day of the event while supplies last) on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (East Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-0900, eastendarts.org)
Cheer on the Long Island Ducks baseball team as they play against the Gastonia Honey Hunters on Friday at 6:35 p.m., Saturday at 6:35 p.m. (with postgame fireworks display), Sunday at 1:35 p.m. and Monday at 1:35 p.m. at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. ($15-$17, 3 Court House Drive, Central Islip, 631-940-3825, liducks.com)
Witness the School Bus figure-8 race at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday at 6 p.m. ($40 adults, $10 kids 6-12, 1797 Old Country Road in Riverhead, 631-842-7223, riverheadraceway.com)
Hit up the Ronkonkoma Street Fair featuring live entertainment, children’s rides, arts & crafts plus over 200 vendors on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Hawkins Avenue in Ronkonkoma, 631-963-2796, ronkonkomachamber.com)
Join in the Race to Remember 10-Mile Run, which steps off at West Park Avenue and Magnolia Boulevard in Long Beach on Sunday at 8 a.m. ($30 in advance by 4 p.m. on Friday, $40 day of the race, 516-431-1000, longbeachny.gov/races)
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
