With autumn finally arriving, going out and enjoying the weather before the winter cold arrives is a must. Whether it’s celebrating Halloween, preparing for Thanksgiving or simply enjoying the season, there is somewhere to go for everyone. There is a lot to enjoy this time of year so here are just a few must visit places across Long Island to get into the fall spirit.
- Old Bethpage Village
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The Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage, hosts a lot of themed and historical events for both adults and children to enjoy throughout the year. During the fall they host multiple events to celebrate the season as if you are in the 1800s.
Celebrate Halloween with The Great Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkin Blaze which closes in November. You can walk a trail in a 19th century village that is filled with more than 7,000 hand carved pumpkins. You can also celebrate Halloween at Old Bethpage on October 29 and 30 with their 1880’s Haunted Halloween. The restoration will be turned into a Halloween town where both children and adults can enjoy the holiday.
Aside from Halloween, Old Bethpage Village also hosts an 1863 Thanksgiving Celebration. On November 26th and 27th, the village will be open for everyone to come and enjoy Thanksgiving as if they are in the 19th century, with activities, decorations and more.
- Pumpkin Picking
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In the fall, Long Island is full of farms and stands for pumpkin and apple picking which makes the perfect activity for a fall day. At F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville, you can go pumpkin picking along with flower and vegetable picking. They also have a corn maze, animals and a farm stand. Besides the pumpkin picking, Schmitt’s Farm has a lot to offer for Fall.
Farther out east in Water Mill is Hank’s Pumpkintown, which is well known for both pumpkin and apple picking but it also offers a market with freshly baked goods, a corn maze and wagon rides.
If you’re looking for pumpkin picking, Schmitt’s Family Farm and Hank’s Pumpkintown are a couple of places on Long Island that offer exactly what you’re looking for and so much more during the Fall season.
- Haunted House
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Going to a haunted house is a must when preparing for Halloween. F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville, New York has more than just pumpkin picking. Every night of October, Schmitt’s Farm Haunt takes over. This well known haunted house has been up and running since 1994. Every season, The Haunt is rebuilt and becomes the main haunted house. Schmitt’s is also home to Long Island’s only haunted corn trail. If you are looking for a scary experience leading up to Halloween, Schmitt’s Farm Haunt will meet all of your expectations.
Another well known haunted house on Long Island is Bayville Scream Park. The park is open through October until mid November and is home to seven terrifying main attractions along with a few smaller attractions, including food and mini golf. Whether it’s a haunted mansion, a funhouse or an asylum, Bayville Scream Park is a necessity for all horror lovers during the Halloween season.
- Farm Stands
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As soon as spring arrives, farm stands pop up all across Long Island. Out east, it’s rare to drive down the street without passing multiple farm stands. In the fall, the last season before the stands close for the winter, they are filled with amazing fall flavored treats, pumpkins, flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Milk Pail in Water Mill, is one farm stand that people travel to throughout the fall for the freshly baked apple cider donuts. You can get them pre-packaged or watch them bake it right in front of you. During the fall, the also sell pumpkins along with flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Another notable farm stand is Briermere Farms in Riverhead. Similarly to The Milk Pail, Briermere also sells an assortment of baked good, flowers and pumpkins for the fall. What makes Briermere stand out is the fresh pies, jams and syrups. They sell more than a dozen different flavors of pie and almost every fruit imaginable is made into a jam.
Visiting the many different farm stands across Long Island can be made into an all day activity. Especially with the foliage and the speciality goods for the fall, these stands always encapsulate the feelings of this time of year in a way that you must go and visit for yourself.
- The witches Brew
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Visit The Witches Brew cafe in Hempstead. The Witches Brew is a restaurant and coffee shop geared towards Halloween. They’re open year round but during the fall, their spooky decor is over the top. This makes for a fun lunch or dinner place to visit on or around Halloween to get in the holiday spirit. Plus, they offer a lot of amazing fall tea, coffee and food options.
We hope you take into consideration all of the amazing fresh food, farm stands and fall activities that your community on Long Island has for you.