Free things to do this fall on Long Island
Festivalgoers enjoy the rides at the Long Island Fall Festival at Heckscher Park in Huntington. Credit: Barry Sloan
Every day is an adventure, but they don’t have to cost a lot. Free family fun can be found all over Long Island. From lighthouses to festivals to world-class museums, here are 20 free picks to keep you busy all season.
🍂 Upcoming events 🍂
Through Oct. 25: Fall for the Hicks Nurseries Fall Festival
100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury
Jack and Emma Competello, of Westbury, have their picture taken by mom, Bridget, in the hay maze at the Fall Festival at Hicks Nurseries. Credit: Linda Rosier
For generations, Hicks Nurseries' fall festival has been an annual tradition. Enjoy food, games, a hay maze, a petting zoo and the return of "Otto the Ghost," who continues to delight young and old. You also can check out the Christmas shop.
WHEN 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
MORE INFO 516-334-0066, hicksnurseries.com
Sept: 30: Line dance at Station Yards Country Night
9 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma
On the season’s final night, all ages and levels are welcome for country line dancing under the open skies.
WHEN 5-7 p.m.
MORE INFO 631-751-0300, stationyardsli.com
Oct. 3: Have fun at the Grand Baldwin Festival
Baldwin Public Library parking lot, 2385 Grand Ave., Baldwin
This free pop-up features live performances — including Caribbean beats from the Adlib Steel Orchestra — kids’ activities, food, a vendor marketplace and an art exhibition.
WHEN Noon-4:30 p.m.
MORE INFO grandbaldwinfestival.com
Oct. 3: Delve into history with Culper Spy Day
Long Island Museum, 1200 Rte. 25A, Stony Brook
A revolutionary cannon is fired off at Culper Spy Day. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Dive into Long Island’s Revolutionary era history, learn about early espionage and visit all the museum’s exhibitions for free during this annual celebration.
WHEN Noon-5 p.m.
MORE INFO longislandmuseum.org
Oct. 9-12: Celebrate the season at the Long Island Fall Festival
Heckscher Park, 11 Prime Ave., Huntington
Children ride the tea cups during the Long Island Fall Festival at Heckscher Park. Credit: Barry Sloan
Thousands turn out for rides, music, performances, vendors, arts and hands-on activities at the Heckscher Museum of Art. There's also a meatball eating contest for those so inclined.
WHEN 5-10 p.m. Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 10-11 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12
MORE INFO huntingtonchamber.com/fall-festival
Oct. 10: Attend the Latinx Arts Festival and Book Fair
Nassau Community College, CCB Building, 1 Education Dr., Uniondale
The Third Annual Latinx Arts Festival and Book Fair on Oct. 10 brings arts and literature to audiences young and old. Credit: Ed Shin
The power of community, heritage and storytelling come together in this third annual festival, a daylong event that brings authors, publishers and audiences together for reading, writing, art making and magic.
WHEN 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
MORE INFO latinxartsfestivalbookfair.com
Oct. 10 and Nov. 14: Lend a hand at Orkestai Farm Community Days
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay
Folks get there hands dirty while helping out Orkestai Farm in Oyster Bay. Credit: Orkestai Farm
Be a farmer for a day. Orkestai’s Community Days welcome visitors to dig in or grab some fresh produce at the farm stand. The Harvest Festival on Oct. 3 adds music, food and dance to the mix.
WHEN 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 10 and Nov. 14
MORE INFO orkestaifarm.org
Oct. 10-11: Hear live music at the Montauk Fall Festival
Montauk Village Green, Main Street, Montauk
Montauk is hosting a fall festival this weekend featuring live music, clam chowder contest and activities for families. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The festival features clam chowder contest (11 a.m. Oct. 10, fee for mug and clam chowder tasting), farmers market, pumpkin patch, beer and LI wine, children's and family activities, live music and food vendors.
WHEN 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
MORE INFO 631-668-2428, visitmontauk.org
Oct. 17: Hang at an apple festival
Historical Society of the Massapequas, 4755 Merrick Rd., Massapequa
(From left) Michael Hiller, Lori DeFillippis, Madeline Strasser and Carol Patti at the produce booth at the Historical Society of the Massapequas' Apple Festival; Trustee Lucille Guarascio serves a slice of pie at the Historical Society of the Massapequas' Apple Festival. Credit: Theresa Teja
Head to the festival for apples, pies, crafts, trash and treasure, vendors and live music. The Old Grace Church, the Delancy Floyd-Jones Free Library and Elbert Floyd Jones Cottage are available for tours.
WHEN 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
MORE INFO 516-799-2023, massapequahistoricalsociety.org
Oct. 17-18: Step back in time at the Rock Hall Country Fair
199 Broadway, Lawrence
Brandon Guardado, of Inwood, watches as Barbara Beckerman gives a spinning demonstration at the Rock Hall Museum Country Fair in Lawrence. Credit: Linda Rosier
How did they do things in the old days? Find out at this family event where costumed Colonial historians demonstrate life more than 200 years ago. There's also a harvest market, craftmaking, pony rides, a petting zoo and an antique car show.
WHEN 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
MORE INFO friendsofrockhall.org/country-fair
Oct. 17-18: Go to the Oyster Festival
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and along Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay
The 43rd Oyster Festival returns with food, music, rides, games, shucking demonstrations and, of course, an oyster eating contest. Shuttles carry visitors between town and the waterfront park.
WHEN 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
MORE INFO theoysterfest.org
Oct. 18: Swing by Nassau Boulevard Street Fair and Food Truck Rodeo
Nassau Boulevard between Hempstead Avenue and Gaynor Place, West Hempstead
The quarter-mile-long event features more than 80 artisans and vendors; food truck rodeo; kids fun zone with inflatable slide, bouncers and obstacle courses and towering rock wall; live music from the Mobile Stage.
WHEN 10 a.m.-4 p.m.rain date: Oct. 25.
MORE INFO 516-644-5615, lifairs.com
Oct. 24: Join the Great Jack-O'-Lantern Sail
Belmont Lake State Park, North Babylon
See carved pumpkins lit up during the Great Jack O' Lantern sail at Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon. Credit: Morgan Campbell
A floating pumpkin festival with inflatables, magic show, balloon twisting, a children's spooky den, character performances and meet-and-greets, trick-or-treating, games, funny photos. The first 50 carved pumpkins received will be placed on flotation devices and lit with candles and then sailed from the back of kayaks, around Belmont Lake at dusk (6:15 p.m.).
WHEN 3-6 p.m.
MORE INFO 631-321-3510, parks.ny.gov/events
Oct. 31: Enjoy the Halloween Festival
Stony Brook Village Center, Main Street
Cub Scout Pack 333's "Scary Scout" scarecrow competes at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization's Scarecrow Competition at Stony Brook Village Center. Credit: Barry Sloan
Trick-or-treat in shops (noon-4 p.m.), children’s games, live music and more fun. Scarecrow Competition announcements at 3:30 p.m. Monster Merlin will be present for photo opportunities with visitors.
WHEN 2-4 p.m.
MORE INFO 631-751-2244, stonybrookvillage.com
🍂 Places to explore 🍂
Visit Dia Bridgehampton, The Dan Flavin Art Institute
23 Corwith Ave., Bridgehampton
Imagine walking into a rainbow. Dan Flavin was a pioneering artist who wielded not a brush or pen, but pure color pouring out of fluorescent lights. The bulbs fill the rooms in this museum with dazzling hues.
WHEN 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays
MORE INFO 631-537-1476, diaart.org
Peruse the galleries at Southampton Arts Center
25 Jobs Lane, Southampton
Admission is free and "East End Collected" (Oct. 3-Dec. 27) presents work by local artists. After a trip through the galleries, head out to the redone garden.
WHEN Noon-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays
MORE INFO 631-283-0967, southamptonartscenter.org
Stroll Clark Botanic Garden
193 I.U. Willets Rd., Albertson
Kathryn Buckley, of Oceanside, smells flowers at Clark Botanic Garden. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Take a hike any time of year at the Clark Botanic Garden. It’s easily accessible, walkable and perfect for all ages. Grandparents and toddlers alike will be able to cover the grounds, discover native and exotic plants and even hear croaking frogs in the pond.
WHEN 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily April-October, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily November-March
MORE INFO 516-484-2208, clarkbotanic.org
Tour Fire Island Lighthouse grounds
Open daily, Robert Moses Field No. 5 Parking Lot, Fire Island
Find sea breezes, history and grandeur at the Fire Island Lighthouse. Credit: Fire Island Lighthouse Preservat
The historic Fire Island Lighthouse, a local celebrity, has been featured in films, television and books. An elevated boardwalk passes through dunes and meadows, and the museum and the grounds are free (parking is $8 through October).
WHEN 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
MORE INFO 631-583-5901, fireislandlighthouse.org
Hike Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve
1600 Merrick Rd., Merrick
See Nigerian dwarf goats at Norman J. Levy Park. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
The preserve boasts a 144-foot peak atop a winding road through trees and greenery. From the summit, you can see for miles and the way down is easier than the climb. You may even see a Nigerian dwarf goat roaming the area.
WHEN 7 a.m.-dusk daily
MORE INFO 516-804-2000, hempsteadny.gov
Discover art and artisans at The Church
48 Madison St., Sag Harbor
This contemporary art space is always free. From Oct. 4-Dec. 27, it presents "Dear Mazie," an exhibition inspired by Amaza Lee Meredith, the first known Black queer woman to practice as an architect in the United States. The Maker’s Market (Nov. 28-29), offering Shinnecock artists’ handmade jewelry and art as well as artisanal foods, has a nominal fee ($5 adults, free for ages 12 and younger).
WHEN 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays
MORE INFO 631-919-5342, thechurchsagharbor.org
View exhibits at Heckscher Museum of Art
2 Prime Ave., Huntington
The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington. Credit: Barry Sloan
The museum is free and encourages young art enthusiasts with frequent activities and events in connection with Heckscher Park, where it's located. One of the most popular events is its Nov. 1 Dia de los Muertos celebration.
WHEN Noon-5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays
MORE INFO 631-380-3230, heckscher.org
Step inside a camera obscura
115 Front St., Greenport
Greenport’s building-sized camera obscura takes the principles of light and space and makes them stunningly real. The world outside projects on the walls inside, just as in a camera or your own eye. Voluntary donations.
WHEN 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays-Sundays
MORE INFO villageofgreenport.gov/camera-obscura
