Editorial

See you at the fair

Posted

As we bid farewell to summer and welcome fall, we prepare to savor all the delights of the season — from strolling pumpkin patches to browsing arts and crafts, from enjoying a local band to simply enjoying the great outdoors.

The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a fair add an exclamation point to summer, and this month and next, there are plenty of such celebrations nearby.

Now in its 30th year, the Bellmore Family Street Festival, hosted by the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, is the largest event of its kind in Nassau County. More than 250 exhibits and attractions fill a 25-square block area, drawing more than 120,000 visitors each year. There are carnival rides, magic shows and a petting zoo as well as sports, military and business expos, live entertainment and a host of vendors.

Don’t miss the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Street Fair on the boardwalk, featuring vendors, food trucks and fun for the kids. There’s also an Artisan Flea Market, presented by Beginnings, with jewelry, apparel and kids’ amusements. And the Long Beach Jazz Festival, now in its 14th year, brings delightful tunes to the City by the Sea.

Not far away, there’s the AOH Feis & Irish Festival at Nickerson Beach this Sunday. And for more waterfront fun, East Rockaway has moved its Stars & Stripes Festival from July to September for the second year in a row, offering rides, games, vendors, a DJ and live music in cooler temperatures.

On the Hofstra University campus, the annual Italian Experience celebrates the season with entertainment, crafts, kids’ activities and tasty treats. September ends with the Long Island Fair, Old Bethpage Village Restoration’s version of a 19th century county fair, a tradition dating back 174 years.

The following are some of the season’s highlights.

Atlantic Beach
• Artisan Flea Market, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., hosted by Beginnings, 1986 Park St. Jewelry, apparel, fun for kids.

• Atlantic Beach Fall Festival, Oct. 23, noon-5 p.m., Village Hall Plaza. Pumpkin patch, hay rides, scavenger hunt, pony rides, petting zoo, sand art, surfing contest, local craft vendors, food.

Bellmore
• Bellmore Family Street Festival, Sept. 17-18, all day, Carnival Sept. 15-16, 6-11 p.m., Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., at Bellmore LIRR station. Free admission. Crafts, car show, rides, games, petting zoo, live entertainment. For info, call (516) 809-5892 or visit www.bellmorechamber.com.

East Rockaway
• Stars & Stripes Festival, Sept. 16, 6-10 p.m., Sept. 17, 4-11 p.m., Sept. 18, noon-6 p.m., at the waterfront across from the East Rockaway post office. Rides, games, face painting, vendors, music, shuttle service. Fireworks on Saturday at dusk.

Five Towns
• Five Towns Community Chest Fair, Sept. 17-18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park. Games, rides, food and entertainment. Visit www.fivetownscommunitychest.org for information.

• Arts Below Sunrise STEAM Festival, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., along Broadway in Hewlett and Woodmere. Entertainment, art and dance demonstrations, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities, with craft vendors and refreshments.

• Rock Hall Country Fair, Rock Hall Museum, Oct. 22-23, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 199 Broadway, Lawrence. Historical re-enactments and displays, scarecrow making, animals, food.

Franklin Square
• Fall Street Fair, Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (rain date Oct. 16), Franklin Avenue, from Hempstead Turnpike to Scherer Boulevard. Hosted by Franklin Square Kiwanis Club, with entertainment, craft mall featuring over 100 vendors, kids’ rides, food court.

Hofstra University
• Italian Experience Festival, Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., South Campus. Entertainment, activities for the kids, crafts, and food.

Long Beach
• Long Beach Jazz Festival, Sept. 15-18, Long Beach Library and other venues. For full schedule, visit www.longbeachjazzfest.com.

• Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Street Fair on the boardwalk, Sept. 24-25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Long Beach Boulevard. Vendors, food trucks, carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides.

Malverne
• Civic Wine Event, Crossroads Farm, Sept. 30, 7-10 p.m. (rain date Oct. 1), 480 Hempstead Ave. One of Malverne’s most popular events, with wine tasting, nibbles, live music. $30.

• Crossroads Farm Oktoberfest, Oct. 22, 1-7 p.m. Craft beers, entertainment from local bands. $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Old Bethpage
• Long Island Fair, Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Sept. 24-25, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 1303 Round Swamp Road. Entertainment, exhibits, farm animals, crafts and demonstrations, food.

Valley Stream
• Community Fest, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Rockaway Avenue. Entertainment, DJ, fun for kids, sports-related activities, vendors, food.

West Hempstead
• Fall Street Fair, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nassau Boulevard, by Hall’s Pond Park. Craft mall, classic car show, mini health fair, inflatable rides, food court, entertainment.