Some might argue that harvest is the best time on the East End.
With plenty of fall festivals, pumpkin picking, corn mazes and more, it certainly is often the busiest season.
Here are 9 festivals and events for fun on the North Fork this autumn.
Fink’s Country Farm Fall Festival
6242 Middle Country Road, Wading River, (631) 886-2272
Finksfarm.com
Animal farm, bounce house, hay rides, pig races, character appearances, playground and more. Open Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 23 through Oct. 30. $15 per person, children under 2 are free.
Harbes Family Farm
Mattituck, Jamesport and Riverhead locations (631) 298-0800
Harbesfarm.com
Apple picking, pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hay rides and Harbes’ Barnyard Adventure at the farm’s three locations (Jamesport Western Farm, Mattituck Family Farm and Harbes Orchard in Riverhead). Visit the Harbes website to see which activities are offered at the different locations. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $9.95 Monday through Friday and $17.95 Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Gabrielsen’s Country Farm
200 Herricks Lane, Jamesport, (631) 722-3259
Gabrielsenscountryfarm.com
Gabrielsen’s offers hay rides, train rides, bounce houses, farm animals, pumpkin picking, roasted corn and their greenhouse-grown hardy mums, Montauk daisies and ornamental cabbage and kale. Admission to Gabrielsen’s Country Farm Fall Festival is $5 for adults and $9.95 for children on both weekends and weekdays. Live music and hay rides are only available on weekends and begin Sept. 16. The farm is open from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. every day and the festival runs through Oct. 31.
East End Maritime Festival
Greenport Village
eastendmaritimefestival.org
Tickets for the Land and Sea Gala, the festival’s kickoff event which will be held Friday, Sept. 22, are available here. The Merry Merfolk Parade steps off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. The parade kicks off the two-day festival and introduces its grand marshals Lisa and Richard Israel. Music, entertainment, kayak races, fair vendors, lighthouse tours and more. The festival continues on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Windy Acres Farm
3810 Middle Country Road, Calverton (631) 727-4554
Pumpkin picking, apple picking, corn maze and playground. Find them on Facebook for more information.
Riverhead Country Fair
Peconic Riverfront, Riverhead, (631) 727-1215,
riverheadcountryfair.com.
Celebrate Riverhead’s agricultural heritage with displays, competitions, live music, vendors and family-friendly entertainment. The fair is set for Sunday, Oct. 8.
Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm
270 West Lane, Aquebogue, (631) 722-3467
Stakeyspumpkinfarm.com
Hay rides, pony rides, bounce house, corn maze, on-the-vine pumpkin picking and more. The farm opens Saturday, Sept. 16. Pumpkin picking is $30 for all-you-can-carry or 69 cents per pound. Other activities are priced accordingly. Check the website for hours.
Cooperage Inn
2218 Sound Ave., Baiting Hollow, (631) 727-8994
Cooperageinn.com
Outdoor seating, live music, pony rides, face painting and family-friendly activities. There will be a full bar as well as kid-friendly food. The festival runs every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. as well as Monday, Oct. 9. Admission is free.
Wildwood Fall Festival
Hulse Landing Road, Wading River, (631) 929-4262
Children’s entertainment, fair vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo, funny photos, inflatables, a wagon ride, donut-eating contest, build-a-scarecrow contest, environmental displays, food and more. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sept. 23. Admission is free.
