Top 20 Things to Do in Spring on Long Island

UPDATED JULY 2019: Spring is in the air on Long Island! Make the most of the warmer days with our guide to the top 20 events of the season. Gather your brood for maple sugaring, the tulip festival, a classic Easter egg hunt, the famous Bethpage Air Show, and more!

1. Sweet Spot

George Potanovic Jr.

Maple Sugaring Day at Benner’s Farm in East Setauket is an experience to remember for anyone with a sweet tooth. Nobody but Mother Nature knows exactly when the sap will run, but the four- to-six-week season typically starts in late February or early March. Learn how to make maple syrup, candy, and other sweets from the farm’s maple trees. Here's where else can you find the sweet stuff. 

2. Enjoy an Irish Jig!

Embrace Irish music on the luckiest day of the year at the annual Huntington St. Patrick’s Day Parade in early March. This parade is Long Island’s oldest and largest, and it features a variety of pipe bands, including some of the finest of the New York metro area.

3. Beachside Bunnies

Orient Beach State Park’s annual Easter Egg Hunt is worth the trip for the novelty of hunting seaside. The Big Rabbit himself will be there to greet the wee hunters, ready to hand out prizes for those who discover the special eggs at this event, which changes dates according to when the holiday falls.

4. April Staple

The All Kids Fair at the Melville Marriott in April is half resource expo, half fun family outing that delivers a trove of educational vendors for parents. Kids get to enjoy balloon-twisting clowns, face painting, a petting zoo, and magicians while you peruse the offerings.

5. Mother (Nature) Knows Best

Courtesy Planting Fields Foundation

The Arbor Day Family Festival in late April at Coe Hall Mansion in Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay is a combo of learning and fun. With plenty of space for wiggly kiddies to romp, they’ll go home happy and tired—and with a better understanding of the importance of trees.

6. The Chocolate Cure

April showers bring…a need for rainy-day ideas for kids. And what’s better than eating chocolate? Making your own fresh. Kron Chocolatier in Great Neck allows you to do just that. From chocolate popcorn to chocolate truffles, a visit to this old-world candy crafter will satisfy the biggest sweet tooth.

7. Tiptoe through the Tulips

Huntington Tulip Festival at Heckscher Park in early May is a family-oriented, floral bonanza that showcases more than 20,000 tulips. Hands-on children’s activity booths, art exhibitions, and lectures and demonstrations are all featured among the blooms.

8. Mom’s the Word

The Mother’s Day Picnic at Belmont Park in Elmont over Mother’s Day weekend is a unique way to celebrate the special ladies in your life. Pack your own picnic and watch the horse races with Mom and Grandma before heading over to the playground and petting zoo. 

9. Toe Chic

Spring is the start of pedicure season! Looking for a bonding experience with your little girl? Lipstick & Lollipops has you covered. Located in Mount Sinai, this one-of-a-kind spa not only offers all the latest in nail styles, but glitter tattoos to show off with tank tops, too.

10. Steaming Up

Around mid-May, Long Island Live Steamers in Brookhaven kicks off its seasonal Public Run Days, when train lovers (aka kids) can catch a ride Harry Potter-style. Relive the glory days of the railroad as you chug along 8 acres of tracks. And in honor of National Train Day, which typically coincides with Mother’s Day weekend, check out our full list of train rides and exhibits in the area. 

11. Konnichiwa, Spring!

The Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University in May is a wonderful way to learn about Japanese culture. With workshops in origami, martial arts, taiko, dance, and painting, this fest will wow kids as well as grown-ups.

12. Street Strolling

As the weather warms, thoughts turn to strolling—and Downtown Glen Cove is a really good place to do just that. Meander past boutiques, restaurants, specialty food markets, a movie theater, and a marina. And don’t miss Justin’s Toys, a store that offers workshops in which kids create their own playthings.

13. Treetop Adventure

Courtesy The Adventure Park

If your family is on the adventurous side, take a trip to The Adventure Park in Wheatley Heights. Consisting of eight different ropes courses amidst 5 acres of trees, this park will satisfy any adrenaline-fueled family.

14. Local Landmark

A calming and relaxing experience, visiting the Fire Island Lighthouse is a must for any Long Island family. Walk the scenic boardwalk, visit the museum, and climb to the top of the tower that’s become one of Long Island’s best-known symbols.

15. All-in-One Nature Site

Where can you find exotic animals, a fitness trail, an ecology center, a picnic area, and three pools? Only at the Town of Brookhaven’s Ecology Site, Park & Animal Preserve in Holtsville. Visit our Brookhaven guide for more information. 

16. Canine Capers

Courtesy Westminster Kennel Club

Sure to bring a smile to your child’s face, the Long Island Kennel Club Annual Dog Show in mid-May—recently relocated to Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay—features a breed showcase and a “My Dog Can Do That” event. Bring your own talented pooch!

17. Homegrown Flora & Fauna

Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center in Oyster Bay comes to life in spring. You’ll find birds of prey as well as reptiles and amphibians native to our area. Consider an Owl Prowl or other guided hike.

18. A Colorful Sight

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River is awash with color in May. Five different nature walks are available next to the Connetquot River. Kids will surely stop at the duck and chicken pens. Find more info on Bayard and other nearby nature centers in our zoo guide. 

19. Round and Round We Go

Steve Pfost

Remember Nunley’s Carousel in Baldwin? A historic landmark and place of fondest childhood memories for many of us, the amusement park closed in 1995. But the cherished carousel continues to spin in a beautiful dedicated building at Museum Row in Garden City. 

20. Planes on Parade

The Bethpage Air Show, a Memorial Day staple at Jones Beach in Wantagh, is a can’t-miss Long Island event that showcases world-class military and civilian fliers. Pack a lunch and some sunscreen, and witness the incredible feats of amazing pilots and parachuters (be sure to bring earplugs for the youngest in your brood and for kids with sensitivities).

MORE SEASONAL FUN ON LONG ISLAND