65th Annual Strawberry Festival: Here's What's Happening

MATTITUCK, NY — One of the North Fork's most beloved events unfolds Thursday night as the Mattituck Lions Club kicks off its 65th Annual Strawberry Festival.

The event will take place from Thursday through Sunday on Father’s Day weekend at 1175 Route 48 in Mattituck; all proceeds will be donated to charitable and community causes.

The festival opens Thursday at 5 p.m. with Hulling Night, a cherished annual tradition during which scores of volunteers from the community — many of whom have been involved for generations — help hull about 100,000 berries that will be used to make shortcake and alcohol-free daiquiris for the festival.

The carnival and food court will be open on Thursday night from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with special preview pricing. A “lite” fireworks show will take place at 9:15 p.m., weather permitting.

The full festival takes place Friday night from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and, in addition to the carnival, will include craft and business vendors, live entertainment and sales of strawberry shortcake, chocolate-covered strawberries, alcohol-free daiquiris, strawberry pies and pints of fresh, local berries. A “great” fireworks show will take place at 10 p.m., weather permitting.

Saturday’s events include the crowning of the 2019 to 2020 Strawberry Queen at 3 p.m., and the return of the Shortcake Eating Contest, presented by by Major League Eating at 5 pm. A “grand finale” fireworks show will take place at 10:15 p.m., weather permitting.

The festival wraps up on Sunday with Father’s Day specials; dads get free admission and ride free with a paid child. The winner of the Big Bucks Raffle will be announced at 4 p.m.

“Attendees come back year after year to enjoy strawberries grown right here on Long Island, and have fun that the whole family can enjoy,” said Steve Ammirati, festival chairman and first vice president of the Mattituck Lions Club. “We’re very proud that this has become a signature event for our local community, and a family weekend that attracts our neighbors from all across Long Island.”

The strawberry shortcake eating competition, back for its second year, will include the #5 ranked competitive eater in the world, Darron Breeden of Orange, VA and others who will compete for $3,500 in prize money.

Competitors will have eight minutes to consume as many individual strawberry shortcakes as
possible, and the winner will earn the title of World Strawberry Shortcake-Eating Champion.

At last year’s championship, No. 2-ranked, Carmen Cincotti of Mays Landing, NJ took the title of
Strawberry Shortcake-Eating Champion after eating a World Record of 22 lbs. of strawberry
shortcake in eight minutes of sanctioned competition time.

In second place, No. 3-ranked, Geoffrey Esper fell short by just two lbs., eating 20 lbs. of strawberry shortcake.

"In the world of Major League Eating, strawberry shortcake marks a significant time in the league.
Not only is it one of our sweetest competitions, but it also marks the peak of summer,” said Sam
Barclay, emcee at Major League Eating. “At last year's championship, we saw record-breaking
results; this year, our competitive eaters proudly set out to push that limit further.”

For additional Strawberry Festival information, click here.