We know that summer is here on the North Fork when the Mattituck Strawberry Festival is near.
You don’t know you’re in the State of New York when you enter the sprawling lawns of this event complete with its own small town competition for the title of Strawberry Queen. This festival has an “Americana” feeling that is more reminiscent of a farming town in the Midwest rather than New York. On the night before the festival, the town comes together for “the hulling” where thousands of strawberries are prepared for festival delights like daiquiris, chocolate covered strawberries, shortcakes and more.
In addition to the rows and rows of strawberry delights, you will find booths selling steak sandwiches, fried chicken and funnel cakes which will require a few days to digest. It’s worth going just to come home with a few pints of strawberries to try in this week’s Seasoned Fork recipes.
The Mattituck Strawberry Festival is a perfect venue for families and tourists looking for a taste of country life in New York.
57th Annual Mattituck Strawberry Festival & Country Fair
Presented by Mattituck Lions Club
Hulling: Thursday, June 16th from 5 to 9 p.m.
Date: Friday, June 17th from 5 to 11 p.m.,
Saturday, June 18th from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, June 19th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (no admission for Father’s on Father’s day)
mattituckstrawberryfestival.org/
Hosted by the Mattituck Lions Club, the 57th annual Strawberry Festival is one of the North Forks largest community fundraisers. The Festival features its legendary strawberry shortcake, “virgin” daiquiris and decadent chocolate dipped berries. Guests will also find over 100 arts and crafts vendors, amusement rides, midway, entertainment stage, “friendly pirates” with treasure hunts for the kids, fresh berries and plants for purchase and more. Friday night turns into a bit of a teen scene so if you are looking for the quaintness of the experience, attend on Sunday.
Directions:
Take Long Island Expressway to Exit 73; Orient. Exit the LIE onto Rt. 58. Rt. 58 becomes Rt. 25. Follow Rt. 25 to Mattituck. Follow signs to Fairgrounds located on the North Side of Rt. 48, 1,000′ east of Cox Neck Road.
Where:
CR 48 (North of Cox Neck Rd), Mattituck, NY
631-298-2222
Admission: Tickets prices range from $2 to $5 and children 5 and under are free. Please see link for additional details.
| NEWSDAY has a great story about the Mattituck Strawberry Festival. www.newsday.com/about/ny-etxmain0112809423may31,0,1541582.story |
WHERE TO PICK STRAWBERRIES
U-pick strawberries are typically sold by the quart – expect to pay about $3 to $4 this season. Strawberries already picked are running about $4.50 to $6 a quart at farm stands
Anderson Farms: Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, 631-727-2559, 631-727-1129. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, beginning June 8.
Condzella: Route 25A east of William Floyd Parkway, Wading River, 631-929-5058. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, beginning May 30.
Densieski Farms: Lewis Road, East Quogue, 631-653-5221. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, beginning around June 8.
Domaleski Farms: Route 48, Mattituck, 631-734-6886. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
Fritz Lewin Farms: 1989 Sound Ave. (at Edwards Avenue), Calverton, 631-727-3346. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Hank’s Farm Stand: County Road 39, Southampton, 631-726-4667. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, beginning June 8.
Harbes Family Farm: 715 Sound Ave., Mattituck, 631-298-0800, 631-298-4679, harbesfamilyfarm.com. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, beginning in mid-June.
Lewin Farms: Sound Avenue, Wading River, 631-929-4327. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Tuesdays.
May’s Farm: Route 25A, Wading River, 631-929-6654. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Rottkamp’s Fox Hollow Farm: 2287 Sound Ave., Calverton, 631-727-1786. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, starting June 11.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm: 28700 Rte. 25, Cutchogue, 631-734-6441,wickhamsfruitfarm.com. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Windy Acres: Route 25, Calverton, 631-727-4554. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, beginning Saturday.
