Stepping Out

Fall into some season adventures

The colorful season of festivals, pumpkins — and so much more — is here

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The short season that is fall sure won’t last long. So now’s the time to savor all that is so delightful about this time of year. If you haven’t had the chance to partake of a festival or two — get going.
The weekends are loaded up with festivals and activities that celebrate the best of autumn — notably the Long Island Fair, a cherished tradition at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

Fair days
When fall arrives, it’s time to partake in a fair — and most certainly the Long Island Fair. Old Bethpage Village’s annual recreation of a 19th century county fair, which opened last weekend and continues tomorrow through Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, always entertains and fascinates. It’s an opportunity to take a break from the fast pace of modern life and step back into Long Island of bygone days.

This 174-year old tradition still resonates in the 21st century. A longstanding community event, hundreds of volunteers help set up and man the exhibits, booths and tents, as well as exhibiting and demonstrating traditional crafts.
Open to all, those who have a specific skill or agricultural product are encouraged to become involved. Thousands of exhibits are entered every year in “friendly competition.” Home gardeners and crafters enter everything from pickles to poultry, chrysanthemums to crocheted handiwork, fruit, jams, and jellies. Blue ribbon categories include livestock, flowers and vegetables from farms and home gardens, culinary creations, needlework, and hobbies. For the kids, the junior division gives those 13 and younger a chance to demonstrate their skills.
By the way, the fair remains the official New York State-recognized county fair for Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.
Visitors always find old-fashioned fun for the modern era. The family-friendly festival, one of the most popular autumn events on Long Island, includes a fascinating range of activities that are not only entertaining and amusing but also inform: it’s a look at life in the 19th century.
There are craft demonstrations of long-forgotten skills: wool spinning, broom making, timber framing, tin-smithing blacksmithing, weaving, candlemaking, and more. Contests of all sorts involve visitors in spirited activities. Adults can test their skills and strength at two-man crosscut sawing in a friendly competition against other pairs for ribbons and prizes. The kids can join in the competitive action, during corn husking and potato sack races. Children can also take part in pony rides and the amazing Flying Horses Carousel, a replica of a 19th century folk art carousel,.
In the sprit of the historic nature of the fair, Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders encamp at the village and will give scheduled riding and shooting demonstrations.
Of course, it’s always fun to spend some time with the animals. The livestock barn includes cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits and other animals.
Entertainment is another big draw at the fair, which showcases historical period musicians, dancers, and children’s performers. This year’s entertainers include brass bands, fiddlers, Buddy Merriam & Backroads, and the popular folk band Gathering Time.
Other activities include lumberjack shows, a reptile show, Civil War reenactments, and tractor rides.
The fair’s long history dates back to 1842, when it was founded as the Queens County Agricultural Fair, held on vacant lots and farms. In 1886, it moved to a permanent home on Old Country Road and Washington Avenue in Mineola, and by 1899 it was known the Mineola Fair. It moved to Roosevelt Raceway in 1953 and to the newly opened Old Bethpage Village Restoration in 1970, when it was renamed the Long Island Fair. The fair now is fittingly held on a re-creation of the original Mineola Fairgrounds, which is part of the 200-acre restoration village.
Another fall tradition is, of course, post-season baseball — and you’ll find it here. Fairgoers can watch the end-of-season championship matches of the nationally renowned Old Time Base Ball Leagues, an Old Bethpage Restoration institution. The teams represent actual Long Island clubs from the latter half of the 1800s. It’s fascinating to see how these athletes field without gloves.
Fair hours: Friday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2, 10 a.m-5 p.m. Admission: $12, $8 children 5-12 and seniors. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8401 or www.lifair.org.

Colors of the season at Old Westbury Gardens
Fall arrives at Old Westbury Gardens with vibrant colors that transform the grand estate’s flowers and fauna. The landscape takes on a different dimension during this time of year that enchantingly reflects the change of season.
“I always say that anyone who drives all the way to Vermont just to take pictures of maple trees is a sap,” says Old Westbury Gardens Director of Communications Vince Kish. “One of the many nice things during the fall here is that the cooler temperatures are conducive to visitors staying longer and really exploring the grounds. Typically, when most people think about Old Westbury Gardens, it’s about the beautiful flowers, touring the house, or attending some of many, and varied, events.”
“Especially at this time of the year, another element kicks in, the presence of all this open space which offers a much needed respite from an otherwise overcrowded, traffic-filled Nassau County. We have 200 bucolic acres to enjoy including everything from sweeping lawns to charming wooded trails. And then, there’s the foliage.”
Besides that foliage, Kish notes that “the Walled Garden is filled with a wide variety of asters, dahlias, chrysanthemums, and other colorful fall flowers and plants. And as the thousands of deciduous trees start to lose their leaves, new unique vistas that are not available at other times of the year are can be seen.”
Looking ahead, one of the premier events on the Gardens calendar, Dog Days and the Fall Dog Festival, closes out the month, Oct. 29-30. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring your leashed pets for some exercise in the brisk air,” says Kish. “It’s fun to see the happiness on the faces our two-legged and four-legged visitors.” Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. Admission: $10 general, $8 for seniors, and $5 for kids 7-17. (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.