As seasons come and go, they bring changes in weather and holidays, not to mention plenty of annual events and festivals on Long Island. If you’re a fan of food, music, art, cars or all of the above, there’s definitely some kind of festival around here that you’ll enjoy. Make sure to add the Best Annual Event or Festival on Long Island to your list of activities for the year.
Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival
101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson
(631) 473-5220 – facebook.com/portjeffdickensfest
The Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival is a beloved event that takes place every December in the Village of Port Jefferson. In honor of the Christmas season, the charming village transforms into the Dickensian era with streets filled with roaming characters such as Father Christmas, Dickens Mayor, Scrooge, the Town Crier, and chimney sweeps. This magical event is open to the public, appropriate for all ages, and most of the attractions are free of charge. From ice skating in the Village Center, to watching a performance of “The Nutcracker,” to enjoying magic shows by The Great Wizard of the North, to listening to an A cappella performance by choirs and harmony groups, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the festival!
Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival
101 E Broadway, Port Jefferson
(631) 473-5220 – gpjac.org
Every year around Christmas time, the Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival transforms the Village of Port Jefferson into a Dickensian stage to honor the beloved 19th-century author. Community members act out scenes as some of his most famous characters, including Father Christmas, Dickens Mayor, Scrooge, the Town Crier, and the chimney sweeps. The costumed acting troupe, composed of both local students and adults, uses natural outdoor stages around the village for skits and singing Christmas carols, bringing the spirit of Victorian England right to the seaport village for a weekend. December 2021 marked the 25th Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival. Villagers were thrilled upon its return and can’t wait to see what the tradition has in store for this coming year.
Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival
101 E Broadway, Port Jefferson
(631) 473-5220 – gpjac.org
The Village of Port Jefferson magically transformed into the Dickensian era in December of 2018 with streets filled with roaming characters such as Father Christmas, Dickens Mayor, Scrooge, the Town Crier and the beloved chimney sweeps for the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival. The events were open to the public and most attractions are free of charge, so everyone – from the very young to the young at heart can join in the fun. The festivities featured many returning favorites; ice skating at the Village Center, a cappella performance by choirs and harmony groups, Nutcracker performances, magic shows by The Great Wizard of the North, and many fine musical performances by area musicians.
Annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival
101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson
(631) 473-5200
The Village of Port Jefferson magically transformed into the Dickensian era in December of 2018 with streets filled with roaming characters such as Father Christmas, Dickens Mayor, Scrooge, the Town Crier and the beloved chimney sweeps for the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival. The events were open to the public and most attractions are free of charge, so everyone – from the very young to the young at heart can join in the fun. The festivities featured many returning favorites; ice skating at the Village Center, a cappella performance by choirs and harmony groups, Nutcracker performances, magic shows by The Great Wizard of the North, and many fine musical performances by area musicians. In addition, this year’s festival featured Theater Three’s 34th Annual production of A Christmas Carol!
Alive After Five
aliveafterfive.com
If you are like the rest of Long Island, you are not only counting down to 5pm, and Alive After Five. This summer will the popular summer street festival’s 17th year on Patchogue’s Main Street. Happening on June 28th, July 19th, August 2nd and 16th, Alive After Five is a free summer street fair with six stages of live music and entertainment, more than 90 craft and retail vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and amusements, nightly giveaways and much more. A huge hit for Long Island, every year Alive After Five gets the community together to celebrate Patchogue, eat great food, experience art, culture, and amazing music.
Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach
1 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh. 516-785-1600. bethpageairshow.com
The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is probably the biggest annual event on Long Island, drawing hundreds of thousands to the famed state park for two days of mind-bending aerial stunts. And judging by the amount of votes, it’s also the most popular. Each year, the organizers of the air show give us a little different flavor, and each year they continue to impress. There’s nothing quite like watching the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds soar above the clouds or U.S. Navy Blue Angels rocket across the sky. The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach occurs each Memorial Day Weekend, which is magical in and of itself, because there’s always a hopeful glow amid the transition from spring to summer. What better way to ring in the summer season than with a glorious military spectacle! There is no better way!
Alive After Five
Patchogue. 631-207-1000. aliveafterfive.com
Long Islanders love their annual outdoor festivals, and Patchogue Chamber of Commerce’s beloved “Alive After Five” has once again been voted their absolute favorite, for the second straight year in a row! This year’s celebration marked an amazing 14 years (!!) of family fun, fun, fun in the setting summer sun, as countless attendees streamed through Patchogue’s Main Street to experience all that this year’s festivities offered. Six performance stages hosted a melodic array of musical acts, along with more than 90 arts and crafts and food vendors, and of course, Patchogue’s acclaimed restaurants all served up endless dishes of absolutely superb (and deee-licious!) cuisines! This yearly, free, summer evening spectacular is not to be missed, and resoundingly, voters agree: Patchogue’s “Alive After Five” is tops!
Alive After Five
Patchogue. 631-207-1000. aliveafterfive.com
Summers make Patchogue come Alive After Five! Presented by the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce for 13 consecutive years on Friday nights on select dates all summer long, at the Alive After Five festival, the streets are closed to vehicles and the people take over, enjoying live musical performances on seven stages, food vendors, children’s activities and much more. Patchogue’s star restaurants open their doors to the streets so you can stop in and enjoy a fancy cocktail at one, an appetizer at another, and so on, throughout Main Street, mingling with your fellow Long Islanders in this ultimate party atmosphere! The annual Alive At Five festival has become synonymous with great family fun, and Long Islanders rank it The Best!
1. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach
Jones Beach State Park, Jones Beach. 631-321-3509 www.jonesbeachairshow.com
2. Oyster Bay Oyster Festival
70 E. Main St., Oyster Bay. 516-922-6463. www.theoysterfestival.org
3. Great South Bay Music Festival
P.O. Box 371, Port Jefferson. 631-331-0808. www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com
1. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union Jones Beach Air Show
Jones Beach State Park, 1 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh. 516-785-1600. www.jonesbeachairshow.com
2. Act 1 Entertainment Blockfest
Michael E. Reilly Memorial Park, Patchogue. 631-758-3505. www.act1entertainment.net
3. Blue Point Brewery Cask Ales Festival
Blue Point Brewery, Patchogue. 631-475-6944. www.bluepointbrewing.com
1. Oyster Bay Oyster Festival
Main Street, Oyster Bay. 516-922-6464. www.theoysterfestival.org
2. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union Jones Beach Air Show
Jones Beach State Park, 1 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh. 516-785-1600. www.jonesbeachairshow.com
3. Great South Bay Music Festival
Shorefront Park, Patchogue. 631-331-0808. www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com
1. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show at Jones Beach
Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh. 631-321-3510. www.jonesbeachairshow.com
2. Oyster Bay Oyster Festival
70 E. Main St., Oyster Bay. 516-922-6464. www.theoysterfestival.org
3. Nassau BOCES “Education Partner” Awards Gala
71 Clinton Rd., Garden City. 516-396-2500. www.nassauboces.org
1. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show at Jones Beach
Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh, May 29-30, 2010, www.jonesbeachairshow.com
2. The Long Island Fall Festival at Huntington
Heckscher Park, Route 25A, Huntington. Oct. 8-11. www.lifallfestival.com
3. Oyster Bay Oyster Festival
East Main Street, Oyster Bay. Oct. 16-17, 2010.www.theoysterfestival.org
