Dave Dominy is this year’s chairman of the Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in June. Dominy, who works as a carpenter and a caterer with Dawg Daze Barbeque, has been involved with the Lions Club for seven years and is the latest to helm the monumental task of organizing the festival, which runs this year from Wednesday, June 11, to Sunday, June 15.
What started as a small eight-hour event held at Mattituck High School now spans five days and attracts thousands for its midway rides and games, talent show, live music, fireworks, strawberry shortcake-eating contest, daquiris, berries and shortcake, and the crowning of the Strawberry Queen. Funds raised support over 30 local and national charitable groups, hospitals and youth programs.
If you haven’t been to Hulling Night in a while it may be time for a visit: Dominy and the Lions will be there hard at work amid mounds of berries and could always use more volunteers. For the latest updates on the festival’s schedule this year, check out mattituckstrawberryfestival.com or search for Matitituck Strawberry Festival on social media. Here are a few of Dominy’s favorite things.
Favorite ride at the festival The Stinger. In the past, I’ve run the festival’s kitchen committee; we feed all of the volunteers: the fire department, the police department, the Lions Club members. Our kitchen is next to the Stinger, so I listen to the screams all day.
Favorite old-school North Fork business Magic Fountain (9825 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-4908; magicfountainlongisland.com), the Broken Down Valise (180 Pike St., Mattituck, 631-298-7265) and the Cutchogue Diner (27850 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-7016; cutchoguediner.com). I go to all of them; they’ve all weathered the test of time.
Favorite event at the festival Hands down, it’s Hulling Night. It brings the community together. To me, it’s a throwback—a piece of Americana. The berries we hull that night go to make daquiris. The carnival opens for the kids when the hulling is done, and hot dogs and daquiris will be available.
Favorite breakfast Wendy’s Deli (55 Middle Road, Mattituck, 631-298-1500; @wendysdelimattituck). The people, the food and the service are untouchable. I get different breakfasts there, but you can’t beat a bacon, egg and cheese on a roll, and don’t sleep on a Hungry Man in a wrap [eggs, bacon, ham, sausage and home fries].
Favorite food at the festival Strawberry shortcake. I don’t have a sweet tooth, but it’s just that good.
Best place to see live music I love going to Dancing in Mitchell Park (Mitchell Park, Greenport, 631-477-0248; villageofgreenport.org) by the carousel in Greenport. I’m also partial to music at any local restaurant—I’m a sucker for live music.
Favorite local watering hole Greenport Harbor (Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, 42155 Main Road, Peconic, 631-477-1100; greenportharborbrewing.com). I like their beers; my favorite is their Leaf Pile they do in the fall. It’s their twist on a pumpkin ale.
Favorite part of planning for the festival Seeing our group of Lions carry the responsibility as volunteers to put on such a big event and execute it at a level that is just amazing. There’s not one of us getting paid to do this.
