From candy apples to a patch with roughly 1,000 pumpkins, the 27th annual Long Beach Fall Festival in Kennedy Plaza helped celebrate the season last weekend.
“The fall festival is the perfect Long Beach community event,” Michael Reinhart, a city council member said. “There’s so many things for all our residents to do.”
The two-day festival kicked off on Saturday with everything open. Due to the following day’s weather it was held with limited activities. The food and wine tent was open with several local restaurants. There was also live music under the tent and a few craft vendors. The pumpkin patch was open rides were closed.
“It’s great to be around friends and the community,” resident Jeana Johnston said. “I also love seeing all the kids running around.”
Admission was free to the public, with festivalgoers purchasing wristbands for $30 or $4 per attraction. Individuals attending both days paid $50.
The event began with a costume parade and a costume contest, awarding winners, big and small, with trophies.
“I loved marching in the parade with the kids,” Reinhart said. “It was so much fun. The kids are so excited and the costumes were amazing.”
Attractions varied from the carousel to the Ferris wheel, continuing behind City Hall with a giant slide ride and a haunted house maze featuring horror icon, Freddy Krueger, providing unlimited entertainment for the whole family.
“I have been going here since I was a kid,” Joe Lattanzi said. “When I was younger I loved the fire trucks, now it’s just to keep the tradition alive with my kids.”
Out of the 40-plus vendors in attendance, dozens provided delicious delicacies, from burgers to crepes. Wine tasting presented by Beach Liquors became a hit for those 21 and older.
“All ages have a good time, from the carousel to the music,” Daine Cassidy, a business vendor for 3 Is A Charm, said.
This is truly a family event,” said Karina Rodriguez, who came from Brooklyn for the festival. “It’s so fun being here with my friend. I look forward to having the zeppolis.”
There was something for everyone to enjoy, from the variety of foods to the handful of activities, all ages, were all smiles.
“It’s fun, it’s community-based and it’s a good time,” Island Park resident Tracie Schaeffer said.
For more information on future events, go to LongBeachny.gov/.
