Long Island Pizza Fest coming to Huntington

How exactly did it take this long for Long Island to have its own pizza festival? It hasn’t been for lack of effort. Frank Antonetti has been trying to get this going for more than two years and it’s finally happening on Sept. 13 at Mill Dam Park in Huntington.

Antonetti partnered with two local business owners, Corey Gluckstal and JB Woodworth, to bring together all the ingredients.

"We wanted to showcase the rich culture of Long Island pizza," said Antonetti, who is an owner at 1653 Pizza Company and The Rust & Gold, both in Huntington. He was also one of the founders of the Long Island Bartenders League which, since its inception in 2018, has organized cocktail competitions all over the Island. "I believe that helped develop our cocktail culture and we hope to do the same with pizza."

The festival’s lineup is a who’s who of standout pizzerias, with artisanal places (many of which are on Newsday’s best pizza list) mixing it up with classic slice shops. 

In addition to Antonetti’s own 1653 Pizza Company, you can expect to see Donatina (Patchogue), Grotta di Fuoco (Long Beach), Louie’s (Carle Place), Mama Theresa’s (East Meadow), The Onion Tree (Sea Cliff), Serpico's Bread Co. (Hicksville-based mobile pizzeria), Corato Pizza Truck, Our Pizza (Bay Shore-based mobile pizzeria), Rosa’s (New Hyde Park) Slice of New York (Franklin Square), Taglio (Mineola and Massapequa Park), Tori T’s (Malverne), Uncle Frank’s (Wantagh), Via Cuma (Valley Stream), Wood Fired Edibles (Brooklyn-based catering truck), Zozo on the Bay (Bayville) and Mimmo Tolomeo, the itinerant pizza guru who also reps Caputo Flour.

Local pizzerias use three main types of ovens — wood, gas and electric — and Antonetti is working with event sponsor Fiero Forni to see that every pizzaiolo has an oven that they feel comfortable with. Each oven should be able to accommodate four to five pies that in turn will be cut into sampling slices. There will be two tasting sessions (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m.) and a  $50 ticket entitles the bearer to unlimited pizza during one session. You can buy four tickets for the price of three, and kids 10 and younger eat for free. (If you bought a ticket for the initial price of $70, you will be getting a refund.) 

Regardless of the tasting session they attend (and, for $100, you can go to both), guests are welcome to spend the whole day (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at the festival. Another sponsor, Italian wholesaler-retailer Sansone Foods, will host a specialty market. Throughout the day will be family entertainment, a bocce tournament, live pizza-making demos and a competition for home pizza cooks.

A barman at heart, Antonetti has gathered a small but mighty lineup of wines (L'Onesta Lambrusco di Sorbara from Italy and Gulp Hablo Orange from Spain, among them) and craft beers from Moretti, Dogfish and Voodoo Ranger and more. Pours are $10. 

On stage, there will be a mix of bands covering music from the '80s to today, including Souper Sabbath, an Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath tribute band.

At least $5,000 will be donated to Heavenly Harvst, an organization that provides shelf-stable meals to those in need. 

Tickets will be sold at the door but this is a cashless event. For advance ticket purchase, go to thelongislandpizzafestival.com.

This story has been updated with new admission ticket pricing.