Winter Bucket List 2015-16: Long Island's Can’t-Miss Festive Seasonal Fun!

 As November is drawing to an end, Long Islanders are gearing up for Winter - even if we're just a little early! This Winter, there's tons of great fun happening across Long Island - from Holiday Light Shows, to Craft Fairs, Outdoor Entertainment, and tons of great indoor and outdoor things to do for the whole family! To ensure that you make the most out this Winter, we've put together our own Bucket List packed with all of this year's best local Winter Fun, so you enjoy the colder months whether you're a snow enthusiast, or you're more apt to enjoy the great indoors when things get chilly.

Check Out LongIsland.com's Winter 2015-16 Bucket List Here!

Photo by LongIsland.com Reader James Murray. 

Top Turkey Trots for 2015 Right Here on Long Island

Planning on wolfing down lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pies, and other holiday delights? If you're going all in for Thanksgiving Dinner, then you won't want to miss out on one of this year's Annual Turkey Trots, happening at parks across Long Island this Thanksgiving! Each year, locals participate in 1k, 5k, and 10k Runs on Thanksgiving Morning, getting their exercise on before feasting in the evening on all of the savory holiday delights that you've been looking forward to all year. If you've vowed to beat packing on the pounds this holiday season, then get ahead of the game, and register for a Turkey Trot!

For the Scoop on LI's 2015 Turkey Trots, click here!

Photo by Margan Zajdowicz, via Free Images.

LongIsland.com’s 2015 November Family Fun Guide: Festivals, Turkey Trots, Veterans Day Celebrations, and So Much More to be Thankful For!

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For all of November's Best Festive Fun, click here! 

Photo by Kindhelper, via Free Images.

Safety Tips to Ensure a Hair-Raising and Happy Halloween Night!

Many children count down the days until Halloween and can’t wait to dress up as their favorite character, but though the night is full of frights and fun, parents must teach their children to be cautious and make sure that they learn safe trick-or-treating habits. For young children, safe trick-or-treat events are a blast for Halloween night, but many other kids live for the thrill of ringing doorbells and shouting “Trick or Treat.” Though most people mean well on Halloween, it is always important to err on the side of caution. 

Whether they are five years old or 15 years old, get your children ready for Halloween this year by preparing them with these tips, as well as some reminders for yourself.  

For This Year's Halloween Safety Tips, Click Here!

Photo by Greg Jordan, via Free Images.

Halloween 2015's Safe Trick-Or-Treat Events Across LI

Nothing says Halloween quite like trick or treating. If you're looking for the best local Safe Trick or Treat Events across LI, then you're in luck - there's lots of great Safe Trick or Treat Events where your little ones can get their fill of festive fun and delicious candy this Halloween Season in a safe, trusted environment, Local schools, libraries, and community centers across the Island will be hosting Safe Trick or Treat Events which are the perfect way to let even the littlest of ghosts and ghouls indulge in the holiday spirit this year. 

For the scoop on this year's Safe Trick or Treat Events, Click Here!

Photo by Zachary Hada, via Wiki Commons.

Long Island Haunted Houses That Will Get Your Heart Racing This Halloween!

Looking for some scary good fun that will get your heart pounding, and your blood racing this Halloween Season? Why not check out one of Long Island's exciting Haunted Houses, which will be open throughout the month of October, and are ready to give you the thrills and chills you're looking for! Visiting local haunted houses is a Halloween tradition that has been enjoyed for generations, and here on LI, our local haunts have kicked it up a notch bringing you more scares, screams, and fun this Halloween Season than ever before! 

Enjoy one of the Halloween Season's most beloved pastimes, and check out one of LI's Haunted Houses this Halloween Season - click here for more info, but be prepared to get scared! 

Pictured: A zombie out for blood at NYZ Apocalypse in Deer Park, NY. Photo courtesy of NYZ Apocalypse.

LongIsland.com’s 2015 October Family Fun Guide: Tricks and Treats at LI’s Festivals, Hikes, and Spooky Halloween Haunts

October is finally here, Long Island, and that means Fall Fun is in full swing! Across Long Island, Haunted Houses, Hay Rides, Corn Mazes, Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches, and exciting Autumn Events are ready to fill your October with thrills, chills, and unforgettable fun! Whether you're into big scares,  and looking for an inside peek into all of LI's biggest, most scary local haunts, or you're looking for some family friendly Fall Fun that you can enjoy with your little ghosts and ghouls this Halloween Season, we've got you covered with ALL the best Haunted Happenings, Scary Good Fun, and Exciting Events happening across LI this October! But October is more than just Haunts - there's plenty of outdoor fun, charity events, and other big fun coming to LI this month - click the link below to find out more!

To Check Out LongIsland.com's 2015 October Fun Guide, click here!

LongIsland.com's 2015 Halloween Guide: Spooktacular Fun with Haunted Houses, Trick-or-Treating & More!

Fall is here, and Halloween is right around the corner, and if there's one thing Long Islanders can agree on, it's that Autumn is one of the most fun-filled times of the year here on LI! This Halloween Season, there's going to be tons of Haunted Houses filled with big scares, family-friendly Fall Festivals & Safe Trick or Treat Events, tons of Pumpkins waiting to be picked and carved, scarecrows waiting to be built, and more scary-good fun than you can shake a stick at! 

Looking for the inside scoop on Halloween Fun? Check out LongIsland.com's 2015 Halloween Fun Guide, and make the most out of LI's Most Exciting Season this year!

2015's Unforgettable Fall Festivals and Craft Fairs

This year’s Fall festivals and fairs are brimming with activities, from the more typical festival and fair activities like bouncy houses, games, rides, and fried fair food to more unordinary ways to spend your weekend, like launching back in time to learn about how the harvest season was spent hundreds of years ago.  

By coming out and raising money for local civic groups and churches, you can take part in all of these activities and more – many of which are family-friendly and available for free.

For the scoop on this Fall's Best Festivals, click here!

Memorial Ceremonies to Honor Those Lost on September 11th

It may be hard to believe, but it has been fourteen years since the Twin Towers came down, and nearly three thousand people lost their lives in the horrific terrorist attacks. Various groups across Long Island are offering memorial ceremonies for those who wish to pay their respects in moments of silence, or by honoring the police, firemen, and first responders who were there that day. Individuals may also choose to remember the event in their own way by visiting and reflecting at a World Trade Center steel beam memorial site. There are many of these memorial sites in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and this year there will be numerous memorial events that are open to the public happening across Long Island. 

To find out more about how you can honor those lost in 9/11 this year, click here.

Photo by Derek Jensen, via WikiCommons.

LongIsland.com’s 2015 September Family Fun Guide: Apple Picking, Town Fairs, 5Ks, and More Ways to Keep Active in Autumn!

 Summer is drawing to an end, but that doesn't mean the fun is slowing down here on Long Island! This September is packed with tons of great Fall Festivals, 5k Runs, and lots of local fun that you won't want to miss out on. With the temps dropping to be cool & comfy, September is the perfect time to enjoy a relaxing nature hike, a stroll on your favorite beach now that the crowds are gone, or an afternoon of apple picking at one of Long Island's many orchards - a Fall Favorite! Find out all about the best fun coming up this month in LongIsland.com's September Family Fun Guide - it's packed with this month's best events & things do to that you won't want to miss out on!

To get the scoop on all of September's Best Fun, click here!

Photo by Mateusz Stachowski, via Free Images.

LongIsland.com’s 2015 Labor Day Weekend Guide to Complete Summer Activities

Enjoy the last few days of summer! Soon before you know it Labor Day will arrive and that’s the unofficial mark to the end of summer. This year, Labor Day lands on September 7th (a little bit later on the calendar year), but even with summer coming to an end, there’s still plenty of summer activities to do over the three-day holiday weekend! 

On Long Island, there’s everything from festivals, fairs, live music performances, car shows, runs, walks, nature exploration outings to other fun activities to complete your summer.

For the scoop on all of LI's Best Labor Day Weekend Fun, click here!

Photo by Thiago Spada, via Free Images.

Tips for Observing the Perseid Meteor Shower & Summer’s Other Starry Nights

 This week, stargazers will be coming out in droves at night to open areas where they can see the night sky and observe the Perseid meteor shower. Each year, Earth passes through the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, which leaves behind debris and comet dust, including the meteors that we call the Perseid.

The bright, quick-moving meteors leave behind bright streaks in the sky that last for a few moments after the meteor is gone. This year, the best viewing period for the Perseid is expected to be in the predawn hours of August 11, 12, 13, and 14, so unless you are a night owl, it may be best to set an alarm on those days to wake up after midnight and check the sky.  

To find out more about the best times & places to view the Perseid Meteor Shower, click here!

Photo by Brocken Inaglory, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ocean Beach, Fire Island: A Day Trip Guide

Ocean Beach is beautiful not just because of the beach, but also because of the community.Ocean Beach is a part of Fire Island, but makes up one of the larger communities on the Island. There’s no driving or biking allowed on Ocean Beach, so you’ll find yourself in a place that will have you active whether it’s walking around enjoying the sight of beautiful homes, visiting local shops and stands, enjoying festivals, or heading to a local restaurant or pub for great food and nightlife fun! It’s a destination suitable for time to yourself, as a couple, or with the family!

If you're looking for the perfect place to get away for a day of relaxation, sunshine, and fun, then head over to Ocean Beach this Summer, and enjoy one of Long Island's favorite local destinations!

To Check Out LongIsland.com's Ocean Beach Fun Guide, click here!

Photo by LongIsland.com reader Joy Raines.

Reel in a Big One by Chartering or Renting a Fishing Boat

Who doesn't love fishing? Here on Long Island, enjoying a relaxing afternoon of cruising along on the Long Island Sound or the Great South Bay as you get your fish on on one of LI's numerous party boats is a Summer Activity no Long Islander would want to miss out on! Party Boats take all the hassle out of fishing on the water - they take care of the boat, fishing licensing, and many even offer lunch options, and will even clean & fillet your catch for you! If enjoying a relaxing afternoon of fishing, fresh air, and fun on a charter boat sounds like the perfect Summer afternoon to you, then be sure to click the link below, and set sail for fun this Summer!

Get the Scoop on Planning Your Summer Fishing Trip here!

LongIsland.com's 2015 July Family Fun Guide: Fireworks, Festivals, Fairs & Tons of Summer Fun!

July's Fun doesn't stop on the 4th - there's plenty of great local fun to enjoy all month long! As Long Island kicks off Summer, there are TONS of great concerts, festivals, fairs, kids events, and things to do around Long Island that no local would want to miss out on! If you’re worried about the doldrums of Summer setting in after the holiday weekend, don’t - there’s plenty of great things to do all month long, including concerts, car shows, and more Summer Celebrations than you can shake a stick at. Of course if those aren’t your thing, you can always make your way to your favorite local beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

For All of Long Island's Best July Fun, Click Here!

LongIsland.com Summer Bucket List 2015: Make the Most Out of Summer Here on Long Island with Tons of Local Fun!

 When it comes to summer, Long Island has it all: beaches, trails, concerts, amusement parks, shopping, and so much more!  Instead of doing the same old things this summer, expand your horizons to all of what the area has to offer.  Make this Summer the best one yet by building your own summer bucket list, and don’t forget to include friends and family in your plans!  There is tons to do for families that will appeal to children and adults alike, such as chartering a fishing boat for the afternoon, traversing the Greenbelt Trail, or even heading indoors to enjoy the air conditioning while bowling on the hottest days.

Whatever your interest, this summer bucket list will certainly stave off the summertime blues!

For the scoop on Long Island's Best Summer Fun, Click Here!

Red, White, & Boom - 2015 Firework Displays on Long Island!

Independence Day is less than two weeks away - do you have any big plans for celebrating this year? If your favorite part of the 4th of July is the Firework Displays, then you're in luck - there will be TONS of festive firework displays happening all throughout the holiday weekend this year right here on Long Island! As an extra special treat for Long Islanders, the Jones Beach Firework Display is back for the first time since 2009, in addition to all the other exciting displays lighting up the skies across LI.

Grab your picnic basket, some nice cold drinks, and your best buds, and head outside this 4th of July and as night falls, look up at the sky - this year's firework displays are bigger and better than ever - don't miss out!

For the scoop on the best upcoming 4th of July Fireworks on LI, click here!

Photo by Teresa Howes, via Free Images.

Long Island’s 2015 4th of July Weekend Guide: Fireworks, Fairs, Fun in the Sun & More!

 It's that time of year again, Long Island - America's Birthday is quickly approaching, and it's time to round up your best red, white & blue patriotic garb, some sunblock, and get ready for fun! Across Long Island, Independence Day celebrations will be happening on July 4th AND 5th this year, as the holiday falls on a Saturday. This means that Long Island will be treated to twice the fun, including parades, concerts, festivals, fairs, and of course FIREWORKS! This year is especially exciting for Long Island, as the beloved Jones Beach 4th of July Firework Spectacular will be returning for the first time since 2009!

To get the scoop on all the best 4th of July Fun Happening on Long Island, click here!

Photo by Joseph Hart, via Free Images.

LongIsland.com's 2015 June Family Fun Guide: Kick of Summer with Festivals, Father's Day, Outdoor Fun & More!

It seems like the first half of the year has gone by in a flash! Although the official start of Summer isn’t until Sunday, June 21st, things are sure heating up here on Long Island in terms of fun! The month of June is packed with festivals, fairs, Father’s Day Celebrations, concerts, and all sorts of outdoor fun that takes full advantage of the nice warm weather. Before you know it, school will be out - college students are already home, and by now, grade schoolers are itching to be done with the semester, and dive head first into Summer fun. 

 

Don't wait until the end of the month to celebrate the new season - get a jump start on Summer fun right here on Long Island throughout the month of June!

 

For LI's Best June Fun, Click Here!