Save the Dates for Fall Festivals!
By Katie McFadden
Summer weather is still making an appearance in the afternoons but fall is indeed upon us. That just means fall festival season is here! Here’s a rundown of fall festival events to mark on your calendar.
It all begins on Sunday, October 5, with the 3rd Annual Beach 116th Fall Festival from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hosted by Councilwoman Joann Ariola, the Beach 116th Merchants Association and the Rockaway Civic, this event will feature games, rides and a pumpkin patch for kids from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., food and merchandise vendors along the street, live music and more. All activities are free but bring money for the vendors!
On Saturday, October 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Campaign Against Hunger is hosting a Children’s Harvest Festival at the Far Rock Farm (45-55 Beach Channel Drive). There will be farm tours, pumpkin decorating, live entertainment and more.
Most kids have off on Monday, October 13 for Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day, and on that day, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers is hosting her Fall Fest at O’Donahue Park on Beach 17th Street. There will be a DJ, food, games, a pumpkin patch, face painting, sensory activities and more.
This one is more for the adults but on Saturday, October 18, is the annual Fall Freedom Fest. The day includes live music at the Harbor Light, Callie’s, Pico, Paninico Rustico/Baya Bar and Jamesons, plus food and drink specials with the purchase of a bracelet, available in advance or the day of at each venue.
On Sunday, October 19, the Rockaway Hotel on Beach 108th Street is jumping into fall with its annual fall festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live music, vendors, activities and more. Kids arts and crafts activities for kids ages 4-10 will take place throughout the event. For the Betty Crockers at heart, there will be a pie making contest at 2 p.m. Sign up in advance! Admission for the festival is free. For more info, head to the Happenings tab at TheRockawayHotel.com. And while you’re at it, save the date and grab your tickets for the Hotel’s 2nd Annual Food Festival on Sunday, November 9.
Not on the peninsula, but just a quick trip over the Marine Parkway Bridge is Green Meadow Farms outdoors at Aviator Sports in Floyd Bennett Field. On weekends from September 27 through November 9, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., they’re hosting pumpkin picking events. Admission is $14 and includes a free pumpkin, a corn box, visits with alpacas, calves, sheeps, goats, pigs and rabbits, hay wagon slides, tractors to sit on and more.
For more info about other fall activities, don’t miss the weekly Rockaway Good Times and Things to Do sections of The Rockaway Times.
