The leaves soon will turn and the smell of apple cider donuts and roasted corn will be in the air.

Soon, you’ll have to put on an extra layer to keep warm, but no one really will mind if it means enjoying a seasonal treat and spending some family time outside. It’s fall fairs and festivals season, and we’ve pulled together a list of some of the best this September and October, including a peek into Halloween fun. So grab a sweater and enjoy this in-between season before the real chill sets in.

 No matter where you live—Nassau, Suffolk, or the East End—fall on Long Island is beautiful, and there’s plenty of family fun to be had. Check out our fall fun guide for more ideas.

Explore the great outdoors at the Marine Nature Study Area in Oceanside, a South Shore seaside environment preserve ripe for a self-guided expedition.

The education and conservation of marine life have played such a large part in Long Island's past, and we are fortunate to have places such as the Long Island Aquarium, South Fork Natural History Museum, and Quogue Wildlife Preserve to help keep it alive in the present.

For more FREE fun, check out our list of playgrounds, boardwalks and fishing spots. After Labor Day, most beach fees on Long Island are not collected. Before heading out, peruse our calendar for a list of updated events.

If your adventuresome little skater dude or gal likes to carve and ollie, turning your furniture and household items into a skating playground, then this post is for you.

Take them instead to one of these skate parks across Long Island, where roller skaters, bladers, skateboarders, trick bikers, and more can show off their stunts, fully padded and protected of course. Note: Most of these facilities are skate at your own risk and require parental waivers for skaters 16 and younger. Check requirements before heading out.  

And for more fun in the area, check out our list of great go-kart and slot-car destinations on Long Island, and be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.