29th annual East Northport Festival begins Friday, runs all weekend long

The East Northport Chamber of Commerce’s biggest fundraiser of the year begins tomorrow, September 6, an annual festival that attracts tens of thousands of thrill seekers, live music fans, foodies and families. 

This is the East Northport Festival’s 29th year. An ongoing highlight at the event is the festival band stage, which over the years has become a music festival in itself, with new bands performing all weekend long. 

A recent and highly anticipated addition to the event is an international food truck festival featuring Long Island‘s most popular food vendors. Organizers first included the food truck festival in 2022; over 15 trucks are participating this year, including All American Wontons, Cousins Maine Lobster, The Pudding Lady, Xtreme Empanadas, Kool Kat Ice Cream and more. 

Also returning this year is a beer garden, this time featuring local craft beer favorite Cow Harbor Brewing Co., directly across from the band stage inside John J. Walsh Park. 

The festival will take place in John J. Walsh Memorial Park at 190 Larkfield Road in East Northport from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8. A festival craft fair with approximately 200 vendors will make way for many shopping opportunities along Larkfield Road on Saturday from 11am to 7pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

Other festival highlights include:

Elsa and Anna from Frozen and Woody, Buzz and Jessie from a Toy Story will make a special appearance for a meet and greet in the Chamber tent over the weekend (Saturday from 12 to 2pm and Sunday from 12 to 1pm, respectively). 

The sixth annual donut eating contest is scheduled for Sunday, September 8 at 3pm. 

There will be raffles, games of chance and skill, and 16 rides for kids (and adults!) of all ages. A kiosk ticketing system will be in effect, accepting cash (exact change only), credit card, Venmo, Zelle, Apple Pay, etc. Advance sale, pay-one-price, unlimited ride wristbands are also available online for $37 (with fee) or $40 at the door. Pre-sale pricing ends at 4pm on Friday September 6th. 

This year also marks the retirement of East Northport Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Loriann Pineo, who has been helping organize the festival since 2015. The chamber will celebrate her accomplishments on Saturday, September 7 at 3pm, inside the park. 

Admission to the festival is free. Festival hours are Friday, September 6 from 6 to 11pm, Saturday, September 7 from 11am to 11pm and Sunday, September 11 from 11a to 6pm. For more information about the festival, including ride lists, height requirements, music schedule and more, see the many fliers on the East Northport Chamber’s Facebook page.