Long Island Kids' Activities August 16-17: Watermelon Festival, Polish Festival, Alice's Tea Party, Live Theater & More

8/14/14 - By Jaime Sumersille

Two weeks left of summer vacation--let's make them count! Head to the East End of Long Island for Harbes' Watermelon Festival or to Riverhead for the Polish Festival. Looking to experience some theater? Peter Pan, Pinocchio, How I Became a Pirate and The Little Mermaid JR. all have performances this weekend.

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Watermelon Festival – Mattituck. Harbes Farm Family Farm, located on Sound Avenue in Mattituck, is holding a watermelon festival where kids can enjoy fresh watermelon, live music, local vendors, children's activities, singing and pony rides. There will also be a watermelon eating contest. The event will run from 10am to 6pm. Cost: Free admission.

Polish Festival – Riverhead. Pulaski and Lincoln Streets in Polish Town, Riverhead, will be filled with over 250 vendors, crafters and exhibits. There will also be dance performances, a corn-husking contest and carnival rides. The festival opens on Saturday and Sunday at 10am and closes at 6pm. Cost: Free.

TomatoFest - Riverhead. All things tomato - make your own salsa, basil ice cream, canning, growing, tomator growing contest, etc. Cost: $3/person, children under age 6 free.

Italian Festival - New Hyde Park. Cellini Lodge 2206 will host a weekend-long festival featuring games, rides, food and more. Free admission.

Holy Family Parish Festival - Hicksville. A weekend-long carnival featuring rides, games, food and more. Cost: Free admission.

St. Ceyril Parish Festival - Deer Park. A weekend-long feast featuring food, games, rides and more.

Saturday, August 16

Alice's Royal Tea Party - Patchogue. Alice and friends will visit the St. Joseph's College campus for a morning of interactive performances, cupcake decorating and a meet-and-greet. Ages: 3-9. Cost: $7/ticket.

Yoga at the Farm - Peconic. Join a yoga teacher in the fields of Sang Lee Farms for yoga followed by a fresh organic veggie juice. Children and adults welcome. Bring a mat or towel. Cost: $15/person.

How I Became a Pirate - Oakdale. This book comes to life on stage in a theatrical performance. Show dates through Aug. 23. Cost: $12/ticket.

Eco Junior Program - Middle Island. Cathedral Pines County Park. Kids will explore ecosystems and learn about nature. Cost: Free, advance registration required.

Craft for Kids - New Hyde Park. At Lakeshore Learning Store, kids can do a free craft. Cost: Free.

Peter Pan: The Musical - Smithtown. This live musical theater performance is running through mid-August. Cost: $15-$30/ticket.

Pinnochio - Port Jefferson. Live performance of Pinnochio at Theatre Three. Cost: $10/ticket.

Train a Seal, Kiss a Sea Lion at the Long Island Aquarium - Riverhead. Bring the kids to the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead on Saturday for a fun-filled day of behind-the-scenes action. During the event, which runs from 10:15am to 2:15pm, kids will be able to get up close and personal with some of the creatures that call the aquarium home. Cost: $155 per person.

Science Saturday at the Long Island Science Center - Riverhead. Kids can learn and play at the Long Island Science Center with over 30 hands-on exhibits. The center is open from 11am to 4pm. Cost: $5 per person.

Sunday, August 17

The Little Mermaid JR. - Garden City. Live performance on Saturday and Sunday at the Long Island Children's Museum. Cost: Tickets $12/each. Must be purchased in advance.

Junior Marine Biologist - Babylon. Learn about our marine environment. Ages 3-5. Space is limited. Cost: $25.

Ice Cream Party with Jake - Bellmore. Includes open play at Le Play Cafe, Jake character visit, tattoos, parachute play and make your own ice cream sundaes. Registration required. Cost: $15/child, $10 siblings.

The Wizard of Oz - Huntington. Kids under age 12 can enjoy a free screening of The Wizard of Oz at the Cinema Arts Centre in honor of the film's 75th anniversary. Cost: Free

LEGO Club at CMEE - Bridgehampton. Children's Museum of the East End, Bridgehampton, 10am. Children can construct works of art using the thousands of Legos at the Museum. Cost: Free with admission.

Messy Afternoons at LICM - Garden City. Long Island Children's Museum, Garden City, 3:30pm-5pm. Work on a fun project at LICM. Cost: Free with admission. (All weekend)

Mommy/Daddy Me Anti-Gravity Yoga - Bellmore. Have your little one explore the Anti-Gravity hammocks while building basic motor skills. All kids AGY classes are structured to introduce basic life skills and build confidence in a light-hearted way while having fun. Cost: $20.

Family Sundays at the Nassau County Museum of Art - Roslyn. Each Sunday, Nassau County Museum of Art offers a 1pm docent-led family walk-through of the exhibition and supervised art activities for the whole family beginning at 1:30pm. Special family-friendly gallery guides of the main exhibition are available in the galleries.

Photo Courtesy of Long Island Science Center