New Strawberry Queen Crowned At Festival

MATTITUCK, NY — A sweet highlight of the 65th Annual Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival took place Saturday as a new Strawberry Queen was crowned.

Last year's winner Teagan Nine, in her final duty as the 2018 Strawberry Queen, announced the winner. "Thank you so much to the Mattituck Lions Club for giving me such an amazing year. It truly has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can't wait to hand it down to one of these girls today," Nine said.

And then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Myah Orlowski, 16, of Mattituck took home the title of 2019 Strawberry Festival Queen; first runner up was Gabrielle Finora of Mattituck.

Orlowski thanked the "amazing girls" she'd shared the journey with. "They are all inspiring."

Other finalists included Milly Monroy and Morgan Puterbaugh of Mattituck and Tiarra Edwards of Greenport.

Of Nine, she said she will be attending Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island where she is destined to do great things.

Reflecting on her win, Orlowski said she hopes to inspire other young women, and to serve as a role model others can look up to. She urged others to follow their own dreams and maybe one day run for Strawberry Queen themselves. "Every little girl has her own inner princess and this is one way of showing it," she said.

Looking ahead, Orlowski hopes to one day study psychology and earn her master's.

The Strawberry Festival is filled with beloved, time-honored traditions.

Rob Nine, president of the Mattituck Lions Club this year, spoke to Patch at Hulling Night Thursday and said he loves the festival because it brings the community together.

"We get hundreds tonight, and over the weekend, we get thousands of volunteers that come out to help us raise lots of money that we use to help a lot of organizations, both locally and around the globe, as well. It's really a fantastic community event — and we hope that you come out and see us."

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."

For additional Strawberry Festival information, click here.