Fall is officially here, and so is October.
With the official beginning of Fall now come and gone, Long Island is starting to get into the swing of things as we enter October. Kids are finally back in “school-mode” - busy in the books and studies, while parents work and enjoy some of their extra free time getting ready for the cooler months. However, it’s important not to get too caught up in the daily grind, so to help you get the most out of Autumn, LongIsland.com put together this great monthly guide featuring the best fall festivals & fairs, Halloween scares, and all sorts of great seasonal fun to enjoy all October long.
Locals across Long Island are getting into the spirit of the season by adorning their yards with scarecrows, pumpkins, and spooky Halloween decor - a must have for many each October. The aroma of pumpkin spice is beginning to fill the air with a hint of cinnamon, as folks bake all sorts of pies, and remember why they love Fall. October is famously known as being the month for thrills and chills, where we purposefully spook one another, and the time the goblins and ghouls come out at night to haunt us, and make us wonder what goes bump in the night. Scary movies and Halloween Specials are endlessly aired, and kids prepare for the one of the best times of the year - Halloween! The time to dress up, trick or treat, and enjoy all of the scary-good fun happening here on Long Island.
The weather continues to cool down, and leaves are beginning to change colors and fall to the ground but don’t let that spoil your fun. Let’s kick it into full gear with LongIsland.com’s 2013 October Guide, which is filled with with of spooktakular fall celebrations and activities that the whole family is sure to love, whether you are into big scares, or simply enjoying the seasonal delights, we’ve got you covered!
Oktoberfest
While in the month of October, why not celebrate with Oktoberfests! Oktoberfest is a 16 day festival in celebration of beer. Although the festival originated in Germany, it is now celebrated across many cities in the world some of which are on Long Island. Check out LongIsland.com’s 2013 Oktoberfest Guide.
Festivals
Here are some of the biggest fall festival going on in October. Looking for more? Check out the Festival and Carnivals page.
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Long Island Fall Festival FREE
2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743
631-423-6100
Friday, October 11th - Monday, October 14
A day filled with entertainment with a carnival, hundreds of vendors, international food courts, beer and wine tent and activities for young children. See event listing for specific times.
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Montauk Fall Festival FREE
742 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
631-668-2428
Saturday, October 12th - Sunday, October 13th - 11 am to 5 pm
Come out to Montauk to enjoy a day filled with things to do such as a clam chowder tasting contest on Saturday, farmers market, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, local wine, live music, carnival games and so much more! Grucci fireworks display will be held on Saturday at 7 pm at Umbrella Beach.
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Fall Festival at Sagtikos Manor
Montauk Highway and Manor Lane, West Bay Shore, NY 11706
631-854-0939
Sunday, October 6th - 11 am to 4 pm
$7
Experience life from Colonial times with demonstrations and a 1775 Revolutionary War regiment as well as old-fashioned games. There will also be races, a petting zoo, a story corner, cemetery tours, self-guided house tour and pumpkin painting.
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Rockville Centre Fall Festival FREE
Sunrise Highway & Long Beach Rd, Rockville Centre, NY 11572
(631) 724-5966
Saturday, October 26th - Sunday, October 27th - 11 am to 6 pm
Enjoy a fun-filled weekend at the Rockville Centre Fall Festival with vendors, live entertainment, gift items, and shopping for arts and crafts. Come rain or shine!
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Center Moriches Fall Festival FREE
Main Street, Center Moriches, NY 11934
631-874-3849
Saturday, October 19th - 9 am to 5 pm
From merchants selling goods and food to raffles, artists, and a petting zoo, there is something for everyone at the Center Moriches Fall Festival. Rain date is This October 20th.
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Fall Festival at Rolling River Day Camp FREE
477 Ocean Avenue, East Rockaway, NY 11518
516-593-2267
Saturday, October 26th - 12 pm to 4 pm
Break out your best Halloween costume and bring your family to the Annual Rolling River Day Camp Fall Festival for a fun-filled day celebrating fall with carnival rides, crafts projects, Halloween trick-or-treating, sponsor giveaways, food and refreshments, a petting zoo, face painting, music, children’s demos, interactive crafts, a vendor fair and more. Rain date Sunday, October 27.
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Fall Harvest Festival at Mill Neck Manor House
40 Frost Mill Road, Mill Neck, NY 11765
516-922-4100
Saturday, October 12th - Sunday, October 13th - 9 am to 5 pm
$5 per vehicle
Spend the weekend at Mill Neck Manor with country crafts vendors, children's activities, meat shop, cheeses, apples and entertainment such as rides and food.
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Harvest Festival at Port Jefferson Village FREE
East Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
631-473-1414
Sunday, October 27th - 12 pm
Come out to Port Jefferson for a haunted building tour, music performances, costumed dog parade, marshmallow roast, pumpkin decorating, chowder tasting competition and so much more! Children can trick-or-treat around the village. There is something for everyone!
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Harvest Festival at Benner's Farm
56 Gnarled Hollow Rd, Setauket, NY 11733
631-689-8172
Sunday, October 13th - 12 pm to 4 pm
$7
Enjoy a day filled with cider making, folk music, games, crafts, homestead arts, storytelling, local produce, food, pumpkin picking and hayrides.
Fairs
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Westbury Street Fair and Fall Festival FREE
Post Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
516-333-2235
Saturday, October 5th - 10 am to 5 pm
Join in the fun and see all of the unique attractions for the entire family including Dave and Busters with games and give-a-ways, North Shore Animal League with an Adopt-A-Thon, petting zoo with loads of animals, kiddie rides, raffles and live entertainment.
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Oceanside Country Fair FREE
Foxhurst Road and Long Beach Road, Oceanside, NY 11572
516-442-6000
Saturday, October 12th - Sunday, October 13th - 10 am to 6 pm
With dozens of vendors exhibiting handcrafted items, jewelry, accessories, clothing, home decor, any many more unique gift items, there are great products at great prices that can’t be missed.
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Riverhead Country Fair FREE
Main Street and along Peconic River, Riverhead, NY 11901
631-727-1215
Sunday, October 13th - 10 am to 5 pm
Come out to Riverhead with family and friends to enjoy live entertainment, agriculture, homemaking and needlecraft competitions, vegetable-decorating contest, carnival rides and activities, folk music, arts, farm animals, pony rides, food, local produce and tractor pulls. There is just too much to do!
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Garden City Street Fair FREE
Seventh Street, Garden City, NY 11530
516-442-6000
Saturday, October 26th - 10 am to 3 pm
Have a day filled with family fun where emerging and established artisans and high quality craft, gift and service vendors offer their goods at affordable prices.
Apple Picking
September was a great time with wonderful weather to pick apples but the season is over just yet. Be sure to check out some great spots to pick some apples.
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Apple Festival at the Historical Society of the Massapequas
742 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
631-668-2428
Saturday, October 12th - Sunday, October 13th - 11 am to 5 pm
$7
Experience the delicious Long Island apples, homemade pie, hot dogs, crafts, music, and more.
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Apple Festival at Islip Grange FREE
10 Broadway Ave, Sayville, NY 11782
631-224-5430
Saturday, October 12th - 10 am to 4:30 pm
From a carnival to scarecrow contests, crafts fair, apple-themed cooking contest, music, pony rides and demonstrations, your day will be filled with fun and excitement. Rain date is October 13.
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Apple Festival at Daniel W. Kissam House Museum
434 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
631-427-7045
Sunday, October 20th - 12 pm to 4 pm
The Huntington Historical Society presents their apple festival so bring your children to participate in traditional games, old-time crafts and listen to traditional music while enjoying local apples, baked goods, encampment, face painting, scarecrow making, crafts demonstrations including butter churning, old-fashioned games and storytelling and more! Come rain or shine!
Pumpkin Picking
Fall is pumpkin picking season and October is the perfect month for that! Pick out a pumpkin to make some yummy homemade pumpkin pie, carve out a funny or scary face with the kids, or just use it for decorative purposes!
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PumpkinFest at Suffolk County Farm and Education Center
350 Yaphank Ave, Yaphank, NY 11980
631-852-5300
Saturday, October 5th - Sunday, October 6th - 11 am to 5 pm
$10 per person
Come enjoy pumpkin-picking, vendors selling crafts, games, food, wagon rides, live bands, pony rides and so much more!
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Pumpkin Fling at Suffolk County Farm and Education Center
350 Yaphank Ave, Yaphank, NY 11980
631-852-4602
Saturday, October 26th - 10 am
The Pumpkin Fling is Long Island's annual championship pumpkin catapult contest -- and a unique opportunity for students and adults to experience the joys and trials of designing, building and operating sophisticated mechanical devices. Teams in the Youth and Adult divisions build a catapult or other propulsion device to fling a 3-5 pound pumpkin into an open field. Whichever team chucks the farthest wins!
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Pumpkin Carving Contest at Hicks Nurseries
100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury, NY 11590
631-334-0066
Saturday, October 12th
Bring your carved and decorated pumpkins to Hicks Nurseries for their third annual Pumpkin Carving Contest! Registration begins at 1 PM; judging begins promptly at 2 PM. The winner of each category will receive a $20.00 gift certificate to Hicks Nurseries.
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Pumpkin Festival at the Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market FREE
4558 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY 11901
631-722-8777
Saturday, October 5th - Sunday, October 27th - 9 am to 6 pm
Surround yourself with pumpkin every weekend in October while enjoying roasted sweet corn and squash, lemonade, hot dogs, live music and more! Many attractions available for kids to be entertained.
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Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Hicks Nurseries
100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury, NY 11590
516-334-0066
Saturday, October 6th - 11 am
Grow your own pumpkin and enter it in the annual pumpkin weigh-off! Prizes will be given to the three heaviest pumpkins along with Rookie of the Year and Best Pumpkin Grown by A Child (under the age of 15).
Halloween
October is famously known for the Halloween. With haunts, candy, and - it is a day. Check out LongIsland.com’s 2013 Halloween Guide for more information on all the haunts and haunted houses to keep yourself scared and events to get free candy.
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The RUNdead at Brady Park
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
631-254-1465
Saturday, November 2nd - 10:30 am
$30
Participate in a 5k trail run through the park where runners are trying to escape hungry zombies. Each runner will start off with a flag belt and three flags which are used as your lives. Use speed, strategy andwhatever it takes to keep your flags. If you finish the race with at least one, you have survived. If zombies have taken all your flags you can complete the race but you wont be eligible for awards. You can sign up as a runner or a zombie!
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Rugged Run for Respect at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds
75 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights, NY 11798
631-254-1465
Saturday, October 5th - 10 am
$65
Help a great cause by running a 5K out-and-back course, complete with body bending obstacles that will not only test your physical strength and agility, but your mental stability as well. Crawl through tunnels, trudge through mud and carry sand bags across varied distances.
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Fright Fest FREE
Neighborhood Rd, Mastic Beach, NY 11951
Saturday, October 12th - 10 am to 5 pm
The Cultural Arts Guild of Mastic Beach presents their 3rd Annual Fright Fest. The pet and people parade will start at 11am on Locust Dr. and end at the gazebo in the village. There is so much to do with music, food, vendors, games, prizes and more. Rain date is October 13th.
Don’t forget to check out other things to do to mark on your calendars!
