No matter how you like strawberries — served with shortcake, dipped in milk chocolate, buried inside a pie or unencumbered on a napkin or plate — you’ll find them at the 54th annual Mattituck Strawberry Festival and Fair on Father’s Day weekend, June 13-15. “It’s a local thing, but people come from all over Long Island,” says Don Stirnweis, third vice president of the Mattituck Lions Club, which puts on the event with co-sponsor Capital One Bank and others each year to raise money for local causes and people in need.
Since the festival began in 1954, Stirnweis says it has grown to attract an estimated 50,000 people over the three days, particularly if the weather’s good. This year’s festival includes a carnival, rides and a midway, live music, a raffle, games of chance, a coloring contest display, arts and crafts, an international food court, craft, art and jewelry vendors, and fireworks displays Friday and Saturday nights. Special events include crowning of a Strawberry Festival queen on Saturday afternoon and the second annual shortcake- eating contest on Father’s Day.
In preparation for the festival, volunteers will gather Thursday for Hulling Night, starting at 5 p.m. under the big tent, Festival Field, Route 48, east of Cox Neck Road. Stirnweis’ company, Century 21 Agawam Albertson, sponsors Hulling Night, which attracts hundreds of volunteers who help remove the stems and leaves from thousands of strawberries before they’re washed and prepared for the festival.
“It’s a fun event that really kicks off the start of the festival,” Stirnweis says. “Last year, there wasn’t an empty spot to be found. We give out sodas and free strawberry daiquiris — virgin strawberry daiquiris — and then we give them dinner after that.”
Admission to the festival is free on Friday and Sunday, but bring cash for concessions and ride tickets.

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