For 45 years, the Hallockville Country Fair has brought a traditional country-fair atmosphere to Sound Avenue.
This year, the Oct. 3-4 event will also give local growers, cooks and beekeepers a chance to showcase their work and introduce a new way for fairgoers to get creative with straw.
The annual fair returns to Hallockville Museum Farm (6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-298-5292) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, rain or shine. The 2026 edition features the return of Hallockville’s Preserves, Produce and Honey Contest, along with the first Scarecrow Making Contest.
Participants 17 and younger compete in the youth division, while those 18 and older compete in the adult division. Categories include potatoes; squash and pumpkins; and homemade preserves and honey. First-place winners receive a $10 cash prize, and ribbons are awarded to other top finishers.
“It’s just a small way we can try and honor the farmers out here,” Hallockville Museum Farm Assistant Director Lillian Cowburn says. “It’s a good way to get your farm produce out there, celebrate that season, celebrate the hard work of growing those potatoes, growing those squash, growing the berries to make your jam; it’s just a way to celebrate that hard work and encourage farmers of all types. And bragging rights are a big part of it.”
Judging will vary by category. Preserves will be evaluated on proper jar sealing, as well as on appearance, texture and taste. A panel of judges with diverse backgrounds and relevant expertise will also taste the honey. The potatoes and squash, including pumpkins, will be judged on appearance and condition, considering factors such as blemishes, size and whether an entry is appropriate for its variety.
Entries must be registered online by Sept. 25 and dropped off at the Hudson-Sydlowski House on Sept. 28 or 29 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The new scarecrow contest offers a different entry point. It allows groups to create a scarecrow together during the fair. Stakes, straw and apparel will be available while supplies last, though participants are encouraged to bring their own clothing and props.
Judges will evaluate the construction, overall look and creativity of each scarecrow, leaving the final judgment to their discretion.
The contest remains open until 1 p.m. Oct. 4, and the winner will be announced at 2 p.m. The completed scarecrows will remain on display through October.
The competitions fit naturally into Hallockville’s mission. The museum is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting Long Island with its family-farming roots. Its 28-acre campus contains 19 historic buildings spanning more than 250 years of North Fork farming history, and its working landscape includes farmland, gardens and animals.
“I think it’s all about us trying to stick to the classics,” Cowburn says. “We’re in good old-fashioned fun. We have both a mix of history and agriculture.”
Alongside the contests, visitors can expect historic tours, traditional crafts, demonstrations, farm experiences, children’s activities, live entertainment, vendors and other fair attractions.
Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children age 4 and younger. Half-price admission will be offered on the morning of Oct. 4.
