It’s that month where summer becomes fall — a magical time to be on the North Fork.
Enjoy Greenport’s Maritime Festival
On Saturday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 19, visit Greenport Village for the annual Maritime Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Hosted by the East End Seaport Museum, the weekend kicks off with a parade on Saturday morning and throughout the weekend activities include local vendors, food and drink specials, storytime and kids’ crafts in Mitchell Park, Irish step dancing, cruises and a chowder contest. Don’t forget to check out the tall ships or wooden boats, too. For details, visit eastendseaport.org.
Celebrate harvest season at an apple festival
On Saturday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., head to Harbes Orchard on Sound Avenue in Riverhead for two fun-filled days of apple picking and activities for the whole family. Pick apples in the farm’s 15-acre orchard, challenge your trivia skills in the Robin Hood trivia corn maze and round out the day in the U-pick pumpkin patch. There will also be live music, Harbes Vineyard wines to sip, and food to enjoy.
Take a foodie tour of the North Fork
The North Fork Foodie Tour is back this year with in-person tours of some of the best farms across the North Fork. On Sunday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. participants will get an inside look at working farms, vineyards, breweries and more. Visit northforkfoodietour.com to purchase your tickets.
Paint the street in Downtown Riverhead
East End Arts is hosting its 25th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival Sunday, Sept. 5, from noon to 5 p.m. on Main Street in Riverhead. At this daylong celebration, attendees help create a mosaic using street chalk. Plus enjoy a crafts fair, fine arts festival, drumming and dance and live music. Visit eastendarts.org to sign up as a sponsor or street painting artist.
Start your weekend off right with Friday Nights at Palmer
September is the last month of the year for Palmer Vineyards’ popular Friday Nights at Palmer series. The tasting room stays open a few hours later until 9 p.m. and they bring in food trucks. Play cornhole on their back lawn and sip some quality wines sitting among the vines.
Celebrate Oktoberfest in Riverhead
For the past several summers, downtown Riverhead’s Grangebel park has hosted a fun night-time art exhibit called Art in the Park Refextions. Well this year, they’re bringing the fun back for a Saturday night in late September to coincide with a new Oktoberfest party. Starting at 4 p.m. there will be beer from Riverhead’s breweries and Oktoberfest food and live music. The party goes until 8 p.m. and the art exhibit stays open until 10 p.m. More info at reflextionsriverhead.com.
Celebrate the North Fork’s Pasttime in Orient
Both of New York’s home baseball teams will be engaged in pennant races this September, but the North Fork’s connection to the game extends much further back than the Yankees or especially the Mets. At the Oysterponds Historical Society, there’s an exhibit celebrating more than 150 years of baseball played here. Check out oysterpondshistoricalsociety.org to learn more.
Shakespeare in the Park in Greenport
Mitchell Park was an outdoor refuge for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it came at the expense of many of the usual fun things to do each summer. This year, however, Shakespeare in the Park has returned and the final five performances of “Twelfth Night” will be held Sept. 10, 12, 24, 25 and 26. Find out more at northeaststage.org.
Hike Mashomack Preserve
Voted best hiking spot in our “Best of the North Fork” contest, Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island is a great location to experience the outdoors. Just a short drive from the North Ferry it boasts an expanse of wood and wetlands, many animal species to observe and great fall views. Late September is a great time to visit.
Grab some Maroni to enjoy at home
It’s been a couple years now since Maroni, the popular Northport Italian spot, began serving up heat at home meals on Main Road in Southold. And if you haven’t tried it yet we have to ask, ‘Why not do it now?’ Check out maronicuisine.com for current hours. It’s worth trying.
