Stepping Out

Colorful fall explorations

It's the season of fairs, pumpkins, and so much more

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The short season that is fall always seems to come and go before we know it. So now’s the time to savor all that is so special about this time of year. The weekends are full of festivals and activities that celebrate the best of autumn — starting off with the Long Island Fair, a cherished tradition at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

Fair days
When our thoughts turn to fall, then it’s time for that annual autumnal treat: the Long Island Fair. Old Bethpage Village’s recreation of a 19th century county fair, which opened last weekend and continues Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4, offers visitors an opportunity to take a break from the fast pace of modern life with a glimpse of the Long Island of bygone days.
It’s a 173-year old tradition that is still going strong. Truly a community event, hundreds of volunteers help set up and man the exhibits, booths and tents, as well as exhibiting and demonstrating traditional crafts.

Open to all, those who have a specific skill or agricultural product are encouraged to become involved. Thousands of exhibits are entered every year in “friendly competition.” Home gardeners and crafters enter everything from pickles to poultry, chrysanthemums to crocheted handiwork, fruit, jams, and jellies. Blue ribbon categories include livestock, flowers and vegetables from farms and home gardens, culinary creations, needlework, and hobbies. The junior division gives those 13 and younger a chance to show off their skills.
And, by the way, the fair is the official New York State-recognized county fair for Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.
Visitors will find old-fashioned fun for the modern age. The family-friendly festival, one of the most popular fall events on Long Island, includes a range of 19th century attractions to amuse and entertain.
Contests of skill involve visitors in spirited activities. Adults can test their skills and strength at two-man crosscut sawing in a friendly competition against other pairs for ribbons and prizes. The kids can join in the competitive action, with corn husking and potato sack races. Children can also take part in pony rides and the amazing Flying Horses Carousel, a replica of a 19th century folk art carousel, and everyone take ride in the hot air balloon.
There are all sorts of craft demonstrations of long-forgotten skills: wool spinning, broom making, timber framing, needlework, leather craft, and more. And of course, the animals are always popular. The livestock barn includes cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and rabbits, among other animals. Also, in the spirit of the fair’s historic nature, visitors are whisked back to another era observing Civil War reenactments, and even Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders make an
appearance.
The fair’s long history dates back to 1842, when it was founded as the Queens County Agricultural Fair. Soon after it became known as the Mineola Fair. It moved to Roosevelt Raceway in 1953 and to the newly opened Old Bethpage Village Restoration in 1970. The fair now is fittingly held on a re-creation of the original Mineola Fairgrounds, which is part of the 200-acre restoration village.
The fair would not be complete without entertainment, and showcases historical period musicians, dancers, and children’s entertainers.
Another fall tradition is, of course, post-season baseball. It is always fun for fairgoers to watch the end-of-season championship matches of the nationally renowned Old Time Base Ball Leagues, an Old Bethpage Restoration institution. The teams represent actual Long Island clubs from the latter half of the 1800s. It is always fascinating to see how these athletes field without gloves!
Fair hours: Friday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, 10 a.m-5 p.m. Admission: $12, $8 children 5-12 and seniors. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8401 or www.lifair.org.

Colors of the season at Old Westbury Gardens
Fall embraces Old Westbury Gardens with brilliant colors that transform the estate’s trees, flowers and fauna.
“Anyone who drives all the way to Vermont just to take pictures of maple trees is just a sap,” according to Gardens spokesman Vince Kish. “Understandably, many visitors to Old Westbury Gardens think in terms of the spring and summer as the primary seasons to visit here. But mid October is a particularly beautiful time to be here.”
“There’s no need to go all the way to New England, come here instead and be among the 200 acres of reds, yellows and oranges. There’s lots of change here with the season.”
In addition to foliage that fills many areas, Kish notes that “the Walled Garden is filled with a wide variety of asters, dahlias, chrysanthemums, and other colorful fall flowers and plants. And as the thousands of deciduous trees start to lose their colorful leaves, new unique vistas that are not available at other times of the year are revealed.”
Next weekend, visitors are invited to share in the season’s glories during a Fall Colors Walk, Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. Experience a colorful show of fall hues during the guided walk with master gardener Regina Watkins. That’s followed by the Family Fall Tree Walk, on Sunday, Oct. 18, also at 2 p.m., where all ages can delight in observing the Gardens’ collection of trees, with master gardener Gene Lanzaro.
Looking ahead, another premiere event on the calendar, Dog Days and the Fall Dog Festival, closes out the month, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring your leashed pets for some exercise in the brisk air,” says Kish. “It’s fun to see the happiness on the faces our two-legged and four-legged visitors. When you take into account these events, not to mention our magnificent mansion, it’s clear that this is really the place to be in the fall.”
Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. Admission: $10 general, $8 for seniors, and $5 for kids 7-17. (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Gone fishin’
Families and junior anglers always enjoy the Fall Fishing and Children’s Festival, presented by I Fish NY, held this year on Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. The annual event, at Hempstead Lake State Park in Rockville Centre, offers a variety of fishing and non-fishing activities for the family.
As always, a fishing license is not required to participate. However, fishing licenses will be on sale for those who wish to fish during the rest of the season.
The festival offers fly-fishing instruction, casting practice and fish cleaning services, with loaner rods and free bait available. Additionally, a display area is set up by I FISH NY, Trout Unlimited, DEC’s Environmental Education staff, as well as other fishing and environmental organizations.
Over 1,000 brook and rainbow trout will be stocked prior to the event in South and MacDonald ponds.
There’s much more than just fishing to occupy families throughout the day. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, a magic show, pony rides, and face painting. Kids will enjoy the casting contest where participants can catch a pumpkin or “hook” a prize.
It takes place at MacDonald and South Ponds at Hempstead Lake State Park, Rockville Centre. (631) 444-0283.