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Best Free and Fun Things To Do on Long Island with Kids May 2024

Head to Jones Beach for the annual air show over Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Golden Knights/via Facebook
Head to Jones Beach for the annual air show over Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Golden Knights/via Facebook
4/28/24 - By Jaime Sumersille

From Mother's Day to Memorial Day, we've rounded up fun things to do all month long on Long Island!

May is here, and it's shaping up to be a stellar month. We're excited to welcome back highly anticipated annual events like the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, the Fleece and Fiber Fair at Hallockville Farm Museum, and the reopening of Long Island's largest water park, Splish Splash.

Read on for all the ways to pack your calendar this month on Long Island. 

More Great Things to Do with Kids in April on Long Island

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First Fridays on Love Lane

Mattituck-FREE
Friday, May 3, 2024
Mattituck's Love Lane closes to traffic for three hours on first Friday evenings from spring through early autumn, allowing pedestrians to explore and sample the area. READ MORE

Long Island Food Truck Festival

East Meadow
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, 2024
The Long Island Food Truck Festival brings food trucks to the Jovia Long Island Marathon weekend at Eisenhower Memorial Park. READ MORE

Flip Circus

Lake Grove
Opens Friday, May 3, 2024, at Smith Haven Mall and Friday, May 17, 2024 at Walt Whitman Mall
The circus is coming to town this fall! Flip Circus features world-class clowns, acrobats, jugglers, and daredevils.  READ MORE

I Love My Park Day

Various Locations–FREE
Saturday, May 4, 2024
I Love My Park Day, held annually on the first Saturday in May, attracts thousands of volunteers to help clean, improve, and beautify New York's state parks and historic sites. READ MORE

SOLD OUT: Long Island Fairy Festival at Sands Point Preserve

Sands Point
Saturday, May 4, 2024
*This event has sold out. A sprinkle of fun and fanfare is on tap at this celebration of fairies, elves, and other fantastic woodland creatures that gather in the hollows at the Sands Point Preserve on May 4. READ MORE

Our Backyard Reopens at LICM

Garden City
Opens May 4, 2024
Kids can enjoy the outdoors with the Long Island Children's Museum's seasonal "Our Backyard" exhibit.  READ MORE

Me & You Music with Keri Wirth at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve

Lloyd Harbor
Select Sundays Beginning May 5, 2024
Rock out to the original music of children's musician and songwriter Keri Wirth at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve. READ MORE

Story Time by the Bay at the Long Island Maritime Museum

West Sayville
Thursdays, May: 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2024
Listen to a story, create a fun ocean-themed craft, and explore the Long Island Maritime Museum! READ MORE

Sheerly Delightful Sheep at CMEE

Birdgehampton
Friday, May 10, 2024
Join CMEE and educators from Suffolk County Farm to learn the basics about sheep, wool, and yarn. Children will enjoy a story, create a take-home craft, and even meet a real sheep.  READ MORE

Mother's Day Workshop at What's Cooking

Oyster Bay
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Make colorful chocolate spring flowers in actual flower pots at What's Cooking ahead of Mother's Day. Then, have french toast with homemade whipped cream and berry compote for breakfast. READ MORE

Baby Animal Day at the Suffolk County Farm

Yaphank
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Cozy up to the Suffolk County Farm’s new (and old) animals and enjoy wagon rides, food trucks, and other hands-on interactions during Baby Animal Day. READ MORE

SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education at Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Quogue
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
SOFO is offering a monthly program at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge that will take place on the third Wednesday of each month for children ages 3 to 7 years and is geared toward homeschooling families. READ MORE

Fleece and Fiber Festival at Hallockville Museum Farm

Riverhead
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Engaging demonstrations and hands-on learning headline the Fiber and Fleece Festival at Hallockville Museum Farm. Don't forget to visit with the resident sheep, llamas, and alpacas—oh my! READ MORE

Country Kick-off at Lenny Bruno Farms

Manorville
Saturday & Sunday, May 18-19, 2024
Have a yee haw happy time at the country kick-off event at Lenny Bruno Farms. Kick-start the farm's season with a weekend packed full of classic country music. READ MORE

Seussical the Musical at The Engeman Theater

Northport
Opens Saturday, May 18, 2024
Dive into the colorful world of Dr. Seuss as The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who sets off to save a speck of dust containing The Whos from destruction. Watch this silly story unfold on the Engeman Theater stage.  READ MORE

Long Island Live Steamers

Brookhaven–FREE
Season begins Sunday, May 19, 2024 (donations appreciated)
Chug on down to Long Island Live Steamers' twice-monthly Sunday public run days. Ride steam, diesel, and electric trains operating on eight acres of scale tracks.  READ MORE

Family Yoga at Benner's Farm

Setauket
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Get bendy at Benner’s Farm during a special family yoga session.  READ MORE

Vintage Wings & Wheels at the Bayport Aerodrome Society

Bayport–FREE (lunch is extra!)
Sunday, May 19, 2024
The Bayport Aerodrome Society promises food, flying, and family fun at this event. READ MORE

Mosaic Street Painting Festival in Riverhead

Riverhead–FREE
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Spark some creativity at the East End Arts Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival, which is a Memorial Day weekend tradition on the North Fork. READ MORE

2024 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach

Wantagh–FREE
Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26, 2024 (parking fee only)
The Bethpage Air Show returns to Jones Beach on Memorial Day weekend, featuring performances by its showstopping headliners, the United States Navy Blue Angels. READ MORE

Spring Farm Festival at the Smithtown Historical Society

Smithtown
Saturday, May 25, 2024
This Smithtown Historical Society's Spring Farm Festival includes sheep shearing, spinning, weaving, woodworking, pottery and wool dying demonstrations, as well as food trucks, barn and carriage tours, pony rides and a petting zoo. READ MORE

Block Party at the Children's Museum of the East End

Bridgehampton-FREE
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Kick off the season as only the Children’s Museum can with its community block party. READ MORE

Big Bounce America Long Island

Hicksville
Starting May 25, 2024
Big Bounce America brings an action-packed bouncy-house wonderland to Long Island. Hop inside the self-described "world's largest bounce house" or one of its other inflatable fun zones. READ MORE

Splish Splash Park Weekend Opening

Riverhead
Saturday, May 25-Monday, May 27, 2024
Splish Splash, Long Island's largest water park, reopens for the summer season. The 96-acre park has two dozen rides, ranging from tame kiddie pools to dark tunnels of terror.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Suffolk County Farm & Education Center
John w. Engeman Theater at Northport