Fire Fest — East Meadow’s premier summer party — is coming in hot, returning for its fourth year of outdoor fun on July 11.
This year’s Fire Fest will feature more than 25 breweries and distilleries offering craft beer tastings, in addition to food trucks, live music from Long Island band KRUSH, a cigar bar, axe throwing, and much more.
The event will be held rain or shine, from 1 to 5 p.m. at East Meadow Fire Department’s Engine Company 4 on Bob Reed Lane in Westbury. The event is exclusive to those 21 years old and over, organizers said.
Fire Fest ’26 is presented by Engine 4 and Ladder 2 of the East Meadow Fire Department.
Event organizer EJ Brennan, ex-captain of the department’s Ladder Company No. 2, is a 50-year member of the department.
“This is our big event, from our point of view… this is our big fundraiser for the year,” Brennan said. “The rest is back to the fire.”
In addition to raising funds for the fire department and EMS responders, the event will benefit multiple local nonprofits: The Ray Pfeifer Foundation, The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, The Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center, Paws of War, GiGi’s Playhouse, and The Jesse Gerhard Memorial Foundation. This is made possible with the support of sponsors Crunch Fitness of East Meadow and Simply Green Dispensary.
John Pawluk, founder of Twisted Cow Distillery, has been a longtime partner of the event.
“We were invited a couple years ago, and we've had a great time,” Pawluk said. “It's a great community and supporting our local first responders — we’re always up for that.
“It's a way for us to get out and meet some of our brewers and distillers who were in the business, and kind of collaborate with them, make some friends, and it's good for everyone,” he continued. “A rising tide raises all boats, so you got to buy local, you got to support local, and that's what we do.”
Casey Gerhard created the Jesse Gerhard Foundation, which represents one of the many nonprofits involved in the event.
“My younger brother Jesse passed away in the line of duty with the FDNY, and we started a foundation in his honor, donating back to families of first responders and first responders themselves,” he explained. “So far, we've donated upwards of $350,000 back to that cause.”
The foundation first connected with the Fire Fest team last year as an event sponsor.
“It was a great event,” Gerhard said. “I was blown away by how many people they had, and the presentation that they put on for the day. It's a really fun atmosphere… I think events like this are crucial. These volunteer firehouses are a bunch of guys who put their lives on the line for the local community without really asking for anything in return, and it's a great way to contribute back to some of the needs that they have.”
Tickets for Fire Fest are available for $50 at Eventbrite. Designated driver tickets are also offered, ensuring everyone can enjoy the event responsibly. For more details, visit Instagram @firefestemfd.
In addition, the East Meadow Fire Department would like to remind residents that it’s always looking for new members to join. For more information on volunteering with the department, visit EastMeadowFD.com, or call (516) 542-4565.
