Following a one-year hiatus, the Mattituck Lions Club’s annual Strawberry Festival will return next month.
The Lions Club has scheduled the return of the long-running event, which was canceled due to COVID-19 last year, for June 16-20. It has been extended one day, with the event kicking off Wednesday, organizers said in the announcement. A decision has not yet been made on how to handle the popular hulling night.
“We are very excited to be holding the festival after the year off,” said event chairman Chris Ekster. “We expect this to be a great time for all attendees.”
Last year marked the first time since 1955 the festival could not be held.
This time around, it will again be called the 66th annual as it was intended to be in 2020. The proceeds from the festival will again be donated to community causes.
Expect many of the usual attractions that have long brought people from far and wide to Strawberry Fields on Father’s Day weekend. Carnival rides, strawberry food offerings and even the crowning of the Strawberry Queen are on the agenda.
While the Lion’s Club’s announcement did not mention fireworks, the organization has applied with Southold Town for a fireworks permit. Town Board members were expected to table a resolution Tuesday night to approve the show as the organizers search for a new location to launch the fireworks from. They previously used the North Fork Roadhouse property and county land, but need to identify a new spot, town officials said. The board and the Lions Club are working together on the issue and board members said they anticipate approving the fireworks before the festival.
Organizers said they will follow state COVID-19 guidelines , which remain in flux, but currently allow them to host the event this year.
