The 32nd Long Island Fall Festival returns to Huntington’s Heckscher Park Oct. 9–12. Hours, highlights and a look at Huntington village living.
Autumn color along the stream and stone bridge in Heckscher Park, Huntington. Photo: Ihop4u2 / Wikimedia Commons, public domain; cropped.
Published October 8, 2026. Event schedules, admission details and availability can change; check the linked organizers before heading out.
Some traditions define a town. In Huntington, one of them arrives every Columbus Day weekend, when Heckscher Park fills with music, food, art and families from across the region. The Long Island Fall Festival is back for its 32nd year, from Friday, October 9, through Monday, October 12. According to the Long Island Press, it draws more than 200,000 visitors from across the tri-state area. If you're a Huntington neighbor, or you're imagining life in Huntington village, here's what to know.
Festival Hours at a Glance
The Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce co-organizes the festival. This year's schedule is:
- Friday, October 9: 5 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Monday, October 12 (Columbus Day): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Newton Shows carnival runs Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Street vendors are open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and park vendors stay through Monday. You'll find full details at the Huntington Chamber’s festival page.
New This Year: Long Island Spirits in the Beverage Tent
The beverage tent has something new this year. Six Harbors Brewing Company owner Mark Heuwetter told the Long Island Press that recent changes to state permits now allow spirits at outdoor events. So Harbor Light Stillhouse, the distillery connected to Six Harbors, will pour five pre-batched cocktails. The tent will also serve New York State beer, wine and hard cider, and Six Harbors has invited five other Long Island breweries to join. The beverage tent is across from the main stage; check the organizer’s daily schedule for opening times.
Highlights for Families
The festival has plenty of activities for children and visitors of all ages:
- Free magic and illusion shows for children at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Saturday through Monday
- Local youth talent on the Chapin Stage, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- A meatball eating contest on Sunday at 3 p.m.
- Dancin' Feet Studios, which owner Marc Arner says is Huntington's oldest dance studio, celebrating its 30th year. Its company and junior company dancers will perform new routines, since the studio never repeats a festival act.
Art, Culture and the Heckscher Museum
The festival is also a good excuse to enjoy one of Huntington's cultural anchors. The Heckscher Museum of Art will welcome festival guests Friday and Monday from noon to 5 p.m. The Long Island Public Arts Festival is also bringing a special Art Prisms pop-up exhibit to the park. Few places on the North Shore put a fine art museum, a village downtown and a 32-year-old community festival within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Why Huntington Village Living Keeps Drawing Buyers
When people tell us what they want in a North Shore home, they rarely start with square footage. They start with a feeling: walking to dinner, knowing the shop owners, and spending fall weekends in a park like Heckscher. Huntington offers that in a way few Long Island towns can. The village has restaurants, theaters and shops, and it sits close to the waterfront communities of Cold Spring Harbor, Lloyd Harbor and Lloyd Neck.
That lifestyle comes with real demand. We broke down the latest Huntington, Syosset and Manhasset numbers in our recent North Shore fall market update. If you're weighing a move, that's a good place to start before you fall in love with a house during festival weekend.
A Note for Huntington Homeowners: Leaf Blowers
With fall cleanup season here, one more piece of Town of Huntington news. According to News 12’s October 7 report, the Town Board rejected a resolution that would have set a calendar for gas-powered leaf blowers in residential areas. As News 12 reported, it would have banned them from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, as well as on Sundays, on holidays and during set weekday hours. Opponents on the board called the plan too restrictive. The board plans to take up the measure again in February, so it's worth watching if you hire a landscaper or keep up a large property.
Next Weekend on the Gold Coast: Oyster Fest
If one festival isn't enough, the 43rd Oyster Fest returns to Oyster Bay on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18. It fills the hamlet's streets and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park with food vendors, contests, a carnival and the Town's shell recycling program. It's an easy trip from Syosset, the Brookvilles and Muttontown, and it's a reminder of how much is going on along the North Shore every October.
Let's Talk About Your Place on the North Shore
Some places are more than an address. Huntington is one of them. Whether you're dreaming of a village colonial within walking distance of Heckscher Park or a waterfront retreat in Lloyd Harbor, we'd be glad to show you what's possible and what your current home could bring in today's market.
Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty | 8223 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury | 516.888.9711 | info@pl-team.com
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