Family fall festivals on Long Island
Fall Festival Weekends at The Shoppes
Credit: The Shoppes at East Wind
The Shoppes at East Wind (5768 Route 25A) in Wading River is hosting Fall Festival Weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Saturday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 27. Each weekend, families will find pumpkins, a Farmer's Market, a bouncy house, wooden train, a carousel and more. The Shoppes are also hosting a Scarecrow Contest, which is free to enter. Simply create a scarecrow and the public will vote. There will be prizes for first, second and third place. Entries must be in by Sept. 13. More information: 631-929-3500, eastwindlongisland.com.
Schmitt Family Farm Fall Festival
Credit: Schmitt Family Farm
The family festival includes pumpkin-picking, hayrides, an animal train ride, a pumpkin bounce house, a firetruck slide, haunted maze, a John Deere trike play area, duck races, roasted corn, apple cider and more. Price: Free admission, fees apply for games and rides. More info: 6 Bagatelle Rd., Dix Hills; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from mid-September through Oct. 31 (including Columbus Day), 631-549-3276, schmittsfamilyfarms.com.
Hicks Nurseries Fall Festival
Credit: Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan
Enjoy hayrides, fresh picked apples, apple cider, live farm animals, children's workshops, pumpkin contests and more. Come see "Otto's Pirate Adventure" animated story, that follows him and his pirate friends as they learn the importance of teamwork; "Otto" will be available for photos on weekends. The new hayride ($5) features a pirate ship, haunted forest and graveyard. Fall festival POP bracelet ($25) includes one ticket for a bag of popcorn, one Otto the Ghost trick-or-treat bag, one ticket for face painting, one ticket for pumpkin decorating, one ticket for Sand Art and unlimited hayrides for the day. Parking and admission is free. More info: 100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 14 through Oct. 27 (Otto runs through Oct. 31), 516-272-4649, hicksnurseries.com.
Fink's Country Farm Fall Festival
Credit: Randee Daddona
Fink's Fall Festival includes hayrides, a corn maze, U-pick pumpkins, train rides, combine slide, playground area, barnyard bouncer, face-painting, pony rides, roasted corn, fresh produce and more. Price: $17 ages 3-16, $15 ages 17 and older, free ages 2 and younger. More info: 6242 Middle Country Rd., Wading River; open weekends 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 14 through Oct. 27 (includes Columbus Day), 631-886-2272, finksfarm.com.
Fall Farm Festival at White Post Farms
Credit: Jennifer Berger
Check out an animal farm (including Patches, the resident giraffe), sing-a-long hayrides, bouncers and slides, playground, play-in-the-hay, pumpkin picking and entrance into the bird aviary. Scheduled entertainment includes a dog show, magic show, exotic bird show, variety show, the "Rodeo Ricky in the Lifestyle of the Rich & Shameless" show and the "Nick's Kids Show." Check website for fall festival pricing. More info: 250 Old Country Rd., Melville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and Columbus Day, Sept. 21 through Oct. 27, 631-351-9373, whitepostfarms.com.
Fall festival at Dees' Nursery
Credit: Dees' Nursery
At Dees' Nursery's fall festival you'll find a children's corn maze, gem mining, an interactive petting zoo, a pumpkin patch and a "Spooky Walk." Some fees may apply. More info: 69 Atlantic Ave., Oceanside, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through Oct. 27, plus Columbus Day, 516-678-3535, deesnursery.com.
Brightwaters Farms Fall Harvest
Credit: Brightwaters Farms and Nursery
At Brightwaters Farms Fall Harvest Festival, families can enjoy pumpkin-picking, hayrides, animal feeding, a farm playground and more. On weekends, there will also be live entertainment with Zippy the Clown, face-painting, magic shows, rubber-ducky races, mini-tractor ride and more. Price varies, pay-one-price available for attractions. More info: 1624 Manatuck Blvd., Bay Shore, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 27, 631-665-5411, brightwatersfarms.com.
The Barkfest parade
Credit: Barry Sloan
Bark if you think you have a winner. Dress your four-legged friend in a Halloween costume for the Barkfest parade at the Harry Chapin Lake Side Theater at Eisenhower Park. It's part of a larger festival with prizes for best costume. All pets in attendance must be on a leash. More info: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, 516-315-6686, ruffhouserescue.org.
Barnyard Adventure at Harbes Family Farm
Credit: Jeffrey Basinger
Families can enjoy the Barnyard Adventure and fall fun at Harbes Family Farm daily until Sunday, Oct. 27. Kids will enjoy singing hayrides (Fri-Sun, holidays only), a petting zoo, pig races (Fri-Sun, holidays only), a gnome-themed hedge maze, "Jumbo Jumpers" bounce pillows, Bunnyville rabbit attraction, an animatronic Chicken Show, a new wooden playground and more. Price: $11.95 Mon-Thurs, $18.95 Fri-Sun, $19.95 holidays and festivals, $39.95 season pass. More info: 715 Sound Ave., Mattituck, open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 631-365-2937, harbesfamilyfarm.com.
Spooky Fest!
Credit: Marisol Diaz
Spooky Fest at The Center for Science Teaching and Learning transforms Tanglewood Preserve into a family-friendly Halloween event. There are many non-spooky activities such as a Not-So-Spooky Walk" in the woods for young children, arts and crafts, live animals, face painting and more. Price: $10 admission for non-scary attractions, $15 admission non-scary attractions as well as the Haunted Woods, Maze of Zombies. Additionally, families can visit the center's new Dinosaurs! and People's United Bank Animal Adventure exhibit for an additional cost of $15 for adults, $12 ages 10 and younger after purchasing tickets to Spooky Fest. More info: 1450 Tanglewood Rd. Rockville Centre, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday Oct. 18 through Nov. 2, 516-764-0045, cstl.org.
Great Jack-O’-Lantern Spectacular Sail
Credit: iStock
A family-friendly Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating, games, craft-making, a children's "Spooky Den" and the sailing of the first 50 carved pumpkins (lit with candles, at dusk) at Belmont Lake State Park. Price: Free admission. More info: Sourthern State Parkway, Exit 38, North Babylon, 3 p.m. Oct. 26 (6:15 p.m. pumpkin sailing begins), 631-667-5055, parks.ny.gov.
Ivy League Day Camp Fall Festival
Credit: Ivy League Day Camp
WHERE/ WHEN 211 Brooksite Dr., Smithtown; Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.; rain date is Sunday, Oct. 28 DETAILS There will be pumpkins, hay ride, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, a rockwall, skybouce, cooking projects, a DJ, vendors and more. Price: $10 per child for a P.O.P. bracelet; food and snacks available for $1 each. INFO 631-265-4177, ivyleaguekids.com.
