10 family-friendly things to do this 3-day weekend on Long Island
Lisa Uvena, of Huntington, takes a picture of her daughter Jaime 11, as Dina Maxwell, takes a picture of her son Devon, 11, at the Fire Island Lighthouse in Babylon on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. Credit: James Carbone
If you're looking for ways to fill the long weekend, Long Island is packed with exciting things to do. From fairs and festivals to a hockey game and a lighthouse tour, there are plenty of things to explore that are perfect for the whole family.
Scene from the “Taste the World” Famous Food Festival at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park. Credit: Adam Calvao
FAMOUS FOOD FESTIVAL More than 60 food vendors offer bites from around the world at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park. The festival will feature live music, a beer and wine garden, children's activities, a chalk art installation, contests and more from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission is $14 at the door, $7 ages 8-12, free ages 7 and younger; east lot, 152 The Arches Circle, Deer Park, famousfoodfestival.com, 631-387-6291.
Spooky Fest returns to The Center for Science, Teaching & Learning in Rockville Centre. Credit: Corbett Public Relations
SCARE FEST See what’s lurking in the woods this Halloween season with scary and non-scary attractions that run every weekend this month at The Center for Science Teaching and Learning from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday. The fest includes kids arts and crafts area, face painting and music. Admission is $25 scary and non-scary, $20 non-scary only, ages 2 and older must have a ticket; 1450 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre, cstl.org, 516-764-0045.
FARMINGDALE FALL FESTIVAL The fall festival includes carnival rides (fee), craft fair, live music, food vendors and Columbus Day parade from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; noon to 7 p.m. Monday in Farmingdale; 361 Main St., Farmingdale, 516-531-9820.
Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf will host an Apple Festival. Credit: Mill Neck Family of Organizations/Nassau County Camera Club
MILL NECK MANOR APPLE FESTIVAL There's a variety of apples for sale, along with tours of the historic Mill Neck Manor, specialty foods, country crafts, a pumpkin patch, children’s events, live entertainment, and craft beers and spirits from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Mill Neck Manor. Admission is $20 parking fee donation; 40 Frost Mill Rd., Mill Neck, millneck.org, 516-922-4100.
LIGHTKEEPERS BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR Follow one of the present-day lighthouse keepers on a bottom to top tour of the Fire Island Lighthouse at 9 a.m. Saturday. Learn how lighthouse keepers in the 1860s to 2020 maintained the light, includes a tour of the Lens Building, which houses the original Fresnel lens. Admission is $20, reservations required; park at Robert Moses State Park Field 5 and walk east to the lighthouse, fireislandlighthouse.com, 631-583-5901.
Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS NEW YORK RANGERS Cheer on your favorite New York hockey team at a preseason game at 7 p.m. Saturday at UBS Arena at Belmont Park. Tickets start at $48.50; parking starts at $40; 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont, ubsarena.com, 516-460-8598.
Set sail to see whales and porpoises aboard the Atlantic Pearl in Freeport. Credit: Dana Trojca
WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING Set sail to see whales and porpoises aboard the Atlantic Pearl at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at 111 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport; and 1 p.m. Monday, at 31 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport. Tour is $75, $60 for ages 12 and younger; liwhaleandsealwatching.com, 516-544-6698.
MONTAUK FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL The festival includes live entertainment with music in the gazebo, a farmers market, pumpkin painting, kids crafts, street painting and food vendors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free for the festival, but there are fees for rides, food and drinks. There will be a chowder competition at 11 a.m. Saturday, must purchase a $12 mug for a tasting; Montauk Village Green, 743 Montauk Hwy., montaukchamber.com, 631-668-2428.
The Constantino Brumidi Lodge North Babylon/Deer Park will march in the annual Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 9 in Huntington. Credit: Paul McDonald
COLUMBUS DAY PARADE The celebration includes bands, floats, marchers and more at noon Sunday in Huntington. Parade starts at YMCA parking lot on Main Street and proceeds down to Wall Street to the reviewing stand on West Neck Road, Huntington.
RIVERHEAD COUNTRY FAIR The agricultural fair includes LI Antique Power Association demonstrations, live entertainment, flower decorating, wood carving, sunflower and vegetable competitions and jams, jellies, cakes, pies for sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Riverhead; riverheadcountryfair.com, riverfront and Main Street, 631-727-1215.
