Mattituck Strawberry Festival

Everyone on the North Fork knows the Strawberry Festival: rides, shortcake, fireworks, big crowds, and that one weekend when Mattituck suddenly feels like the heart of summer.

It's not exactly a quiet educational outing, but for kids, it's an easy way to connect the fun to the place they live. The event happens during the peak of the strawberry harvest, so the rides and fireworks celebrate something local: the short, much-loved strawberry season.

The Mattituck Lions Club organizes the festival each year as a charity fundraiser, with proceeds supporting service projects and community causes.

Wednesday, June 17 to Sunday, June 21 at 1105 North Rd, Mattituck. Hours are 5:00 to 10:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday, 2:00 to 11:00 pm Friday, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm Saturday, and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday. Wednesday is free admission; Thursday through Sunday is $10 for ages 5 and up. Dads enter free on Father's Day Sunday with a paid child. Ride bracelets are $30 to $40 depending on the day.

Tickets and details are on the Mattituck Strawberry Festival website.