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A festival favorite, chocolate-covered strawberries. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

(Credit: Katharine Schroeder)
(Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The Mattituck Lions Club has added a third fireworks show for this year’s Strawberry Festival — a local tradition celebrating its 62nd anniversary this Father’s Day weekend.

Phil Centonze, past club president and head of promotions/public relations, said each fireworks show will get bigger and bigger between Thursday and Saturday.

“Everything has been going very well so far … knock on wood,” Centonze said in an interview this week. “The crops of strawberries are exceptional this year and it always depends on the weather, but, the forecast for the weekend looks beautiful.”

On top of traditional festival food, club volunteers will be serving strawberry shortcakes, strawberry daiquiris, chocolate covered strawberries and more. Family activities, entertainment and musical performances are also planned.

“We have been very happy with the way things have worked out in the past and we are extremely happy with the way things have been going so far this year,” Centonze said. “We hope people come out to support us and the charities that we support.”

Non-profit organizations that benefit from the festival include Peconic Bay Medical Center, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Kait’s Angels and CYO Sports, among others.

“The festival is a good way to introduce people to the East End and all it has to offer,” Centonze added. “It is a fun weekend in general and, fortunately, it falls on Father’s Day, so it is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the day with your dad.”

There’s no admission charge for fathers on Father’s Day when accompanied by paid child.

Here’s a Strawberry Festival rundown:

Thursday, June 16
5 p.m. — Hulling Night, volunteers welcome
6:30-10:30 p.m. — Festival preview
9:15 p.m. — “Lite” fireworks, weather permitting

Friday, June 17
5-11 p.m. — Festival opens
6:30-10 p.m.: Musical performance by Southbound
10 p.m. — “Great” fireworks, weather permitting

Saturday, June 18
11 a.m.-11 p.m. — Festival continues
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Elderly Brothers
3 p.m. — 2016 Strawberry Queen announced
3:30-6:30 p.m. — The NICK Kerzner Band
7-10 p.m. — Who Are Those Guys
10:15 p.m. — “Grand finale” fireworks, weather permitting

Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19
11 a.m.-5 p.m. — Festival’s final day
Noon- 3 p.m. — Eastbound Freight
4 p.m. — Raffle winners announced

For more information, visit mattituckstrawberryfestival.org.

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