Shining sun, rising temps and the smell of something delicious in the air. Summer is food festival season, and there’s one for every taste bud happening on Long Island. From grill-offs to fresh seafood to innovative strawberry dishes, there’s nothing better than a lazy summer day spent outdoors celebrating food with a lot of other hungry people. To help with your summer calendar, here’s the Long Island Pulse guide of can’t-miss summer food festivals.
image: bridget shivell
Strawberry Festival
For four days, strawberry lovers gather on the North Fork for the Mattiuck Lions Club Strawberry Festival. This year’s marks the festival’s 61st year of celebrating strawberries. June 18-21, free to $5, mattituckstrawberryfestival.org.
North Fork Fresh
Restaurants, vineyards and breweries serve up food and drink at Poquatuck Park in Orient on June 20. Try your hand at the pie eating contest. $80, http://bit.ly/1JDyEa2
image: marianneblais
H20 Oysterfest 2015
Local oysters, pulled pork, corn on the cob, summer salad…need I say more. H20 holds their first of what they hope will be many oysterfests on Saturday, June 20 at their Smithtown restaurant. $30, http://bit.ly/1QFM3yF
Beer Fields Craft Beer & Music Festival
Beer and music lovers unite at Buses to Beer Fields Craft Beer & Music Festival. Sample from your choice of more than 250 brews from 100 breweries while listening to live music on three stages at the Pennysaver Amphitheater in Selden on Saturday, June 27. $60+, beerfieldsny.com
GrillHampton
Food Network talents Robert Irvine and Marc Murphy host this grill-off, pitting eight New York City chefs against eight Hamptons chefs on Friday, July 17 at Sayre Park in Bridgehampton. $125, danstasteofsummer.com
Taste of Two Forks
Food and drinks from North and South Fork restaurants, wineries and purveyors meet under one tent for the fifth annual Taste of Two Forks on Saturday, July 18, at Sayre Park in Bridgehampton. $170+, danstasteofsummer.com
image: adlifemarketing
Long Island Seafood Festival
Celebrate the waning days of summer by enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Long Island’s south shore at the Long Island Seafood Festival August 29 and 30. $8, liseafoodfestival.org
Dan’s HARVEST EAST END
Wines from more than 40 East End vineyards and dishes from the region’s top chefs are showcased at McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue on August 22. The annual event celebrates the bounty of Long Island Wine Country while benefiting local charities. $125+, danstasteofsummer.com