Your Complete 2026 Labor Day Weekend Guide on Long Island: Where to Eat, Play, Celebrate; Best Events & More [UPDATED]

BABYLON, NY – Labor Day weekend gives Long Island one last big summer celebration, with four days of festivals, concerts, cultural events, beach trips, apple picking, waterfront parties and family activities. In 2026, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, stretching the holiday weekend from Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7.

This year’s lineup ranges from the milestone 80th Annual Shinnecock Indian Powwow and a major rock concert at Jones Beach to Korea Festa in Huntington, the Ronkonkoma Labor Day Street Fair, parties on Fire Island and the beginning of apple-picking season on the North Fork. Add beaches, amusement parks, vineyards and Montauk, and there are plenty of ways to make the most of summer’s unofficial final weekend.

All Labor Day Weekend Events: September 4-7, 2026

Cultural & Festivals

• 80th Annual Shinnecock Indian Powwow, Southampton (Fri, Sept. 4 through Mon, Sept. 7) – One of Long Island’s signature Labor Day traditions celebrates its 80th year with Native American dancing, drumming, arts, crafts, food and cultural experiences on the Shinnecock Reservation.
• Korea Festa, Huntington (Sat, Sept. 5 through Mon, Sept. 7, 12:30-7 PM) – A free three-day celebration featuring Korean food and desserts, K-pop dance performances and classes, children’s activities, traditional clothing, cultural demonstrations and live entertainment.
• Ronkonkoma Labor Day Street Fair, Ronkonkoma (Sun, Sept. 6, 11 AM-6 PM) – Hawkins Avenue fills with food, vendors, live entertainment and family-friendly activities during one of Ronkonkoma’s largest annual community events.
• End of Summer Festival, East Meadow (Sat, Sept. 5, 10 AM-4 PM) – A free community festival at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church with ethnic food, barbecue, live music, children’s games, a bouncy house, flea market and raffles.
• The Sky’s the Limit Art Exhibition, Sayville – BAFFA Art Gallery opens its September members exhibition with a reception Friday, Sept. 4 from 6-8 PM, followed by gallery hours Saturday and Sunday from noon-4 PM.

Music & Dance

• Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle & Starset, Wantagh (Sat, Sept. 5, 6 PM) – Breaking Benjamin brings its 2026 North American Tour to Northwell at Jones Beach Theater with Chevelle, Starset and Kami Kehoe.
• The Hamptons Festival of Music Opening Night, East Hampton (Sat, Sept. 5, 7-9 PM) – The festival opens its 2026 season at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church with music by Brahms, Vaughan Williams and Mozart.
• Flynn’s Fire Island Labor Day Weekend, Ocean Bay Park:
  • Labor Day Saturday THEO Classics (Sat, Sept. 5, 12-8 PM) – An all-day waterfront Labor Day weekend party.
  • Labor Day Sunday “Sunday Spectacular” (Sun, Sept. 6, 12-8 PM) – DJs, performers, dancers, special effects, vendors and an all-day waterfront dance party.
  • Labor Day Monday with DJ Pookie (Mon, Sept. 7, 12-8 PM) – Free admission and a final waterfront party to close the holiday weekend.

Family & Fun

• JAWS Movie Night on the Beach, Long Beach (Fri, Sept. 4, at dark) – Bring a beach chair to Laurelton Boulevard Beach for the final Long Beach Movie Night of the summer, featuring the Long Island classic JAWS.
• Honeycrisp Apple Festival at Harbes Farms, Jamesport (Sat-Sun, Sept. 5-6, 9 AM-6 PM) – Celebrate the start of apple season with Honeycrisp picking, farm attractions, family activities and North Fork scenery.
• No Matter What Foundation 5K, Heckscher State Park (Sat, Sept. 5, 9 AM) – A rain-or-shine 5K at Field 1 in East Islip supporting the foundation’s recovery-focused mission.
• Kennedy Plaza Farmers’ Market, Long Beach (Sat, Sept. 5, 9 AM-2 PM) – Shop produce and locally made goods before heading to the boardwalk or beach.

Water & Amusement Parks

• Splish Splash Water Park, Calverton – A warm holiday weekend can still feel like midsummer at Long Island’s major outdoor water park, with slides, wave pools, water attractions and family rides.
• Adventureland Amusement Park, East Farmingdale – Rides, games and attractions for children and adults make Adventureland an easy family outing during the long weekend.
• Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh – Spend the day on the Atlantic Ocean, walk the boardwalk and, on Saturday, combine a beach visit with the Breaking Benjamin concert next door.
• Robert Moses State Park, Fire Island – Another classic Labor Day beach option with miles of Atlantic shoreline and easy access to the western end of Fire Island.

Food & Drink

• Macari Vineyards, Mattituck – The nearly 500-acre North Fork vineyard offers guided tasting experiences, including seasonal flights, wine-and-pizza pairings and barrel cellar tastings. Reservations are recommended for Labor Day weekend.
• Meadowlark North Fork, Cutchogue – Macari’s seasonal wine bar remains open through Labor Day, with summer hours Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday and Friday evening Garden Parties.
• Sushi | Bar at Gurney’s Montauk – The limited summer omakase residency continues through Sunday, Sept. 6, offering a 17-course chef’s-counter tasting experience with advance reservations.
• Flynn’s Fire Island, Ocean Bay Park – Beyond its Labor Day parties, Flynn’s remains a classic waterfront stop for seafood, cocktails and views across the Great South Bay.

Summary Table

Additional Local Picks: Apple Picking, Vineyards, Beaches & Montauk

• Harbes Farms Jamesport
  Labor Day weekend lands right at the beginning of apple-picking season on the North Fork. Harbes’ Honeycrisp Apple Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, while the Jamesport farm is also scheduled to be open from 9 AM to 6 PM on Labor Day Monday.
• Macari Vineyards (Mattituck)
  Macari offers several guided wine experiences overlooking its nearly 500-acre vineyard and farm. Labor Day weekend is traditionally busy on the North Fork, so reservations are a good idea.
• Fire Island
  Take a ferry across the Great South Bay for beaches, restaurants and car-free communities. Holiday weekends are especially busy, so check ferry schedules and return times before leaving the mainland.

Local Flavors at Farmers Markets

• Kennedy Plaza Farmers’ Market (Long Beach)
  The market will be open Saturday, September 5 from 9 AM to 2 PM at Kennedy Plaza in front of Long Beach City Hall, making it an easy stop before a day at the beach or boardwalk.
• Other Long Island Farmers Markets
  Farmers markets and seasonal farm stands operate across Nassau and Suffolk counties, offering produce, baked goods, flowers, specialty foods and locally produced items throughout the holiday weekend.

Montauk Highlights & Coastal Escapes

• Gurney’s Montauk Labor Day Weekend
  Gurney’s is closing out summer from September 4-7 with beach bonfires, live DJs, fitness and wellness programming, Kids Club activities and the final weekend of several seasonal experiences. Some activities are limited to resort guests or require reservations.
• SoulCycle Summer Send-Off at Gurney’s
  On Saturday, September 5, Gurney’s hosts multiple SoulCycle sessions on its rooftop along with a Labor Day weekend wellness and recovery lounge.
• Explore Montauk
  Even without a scheduled event, Montauk remains one of Long Island’s classic holiday-weekend destinations, with beaches, seafood, fishing, nightlife and the historic Montauk Point Lighthouse at the eastern end of the Island.

Quick Additions Table

Labor Day Monday Highlights – September 7, 2026

Labor Day itself brings one final day of summer activity across Long Island. From a morning boardwalk race to Fire Island and Montauk parties, apple picking and family attractions, there are plenty of ways to use the extra day off.

• 36th Annual Robert C. McAvoy Labor Day 5-Mile Race (Long Beach)
  Start Labor Day on the boardwalk with this flat and fast five-mile race. Registration and shirt pickup begin at 6:30 AM, with the race starting at 8 AM at Laurelton Boulevard.
• Flynn’s Labor Day Monday with DJ Pookie (Ocean Bay Park)
  Flynn’s closes out Labor Day weekend from noon to 8 PM with DJ Pookie, waterfront drinks and one last Fire Island party. Admission is free.
• 80th Annual Shinnecock Indian Powwow (Southampton)
  The four-day powwow continues through Labor Day Monday, providing one final opportunity to experience traditional dancing, drumming, Native arts, crafts and Indigenous food.
• Korea Festa (Huntington)
  The final day of Korea Festa runs from 12:30 to 7 PM, with Korean food, cultural activities, dance performances, children’s activities and entertainment.
• Harbes Farms Jamesport
  The farm is scheduled to be open Labor Day from 9 AM to 6 PM, offering another opportunity to go apple picking and enjoy the beginning of harvest season on the North Fork.
• Gurney’s Montauk
  Labor Day is the final day of Gurney’s holiday weekend programming, including beach music and morning fitness and wellness activities overlooking the Atlantic.
• Splish Splash Water Park (Calverton)
  If the weather cooperates, spend one last summer day on the water with slides, pools and family attractions.
• Adventureland (East Farmingdale)
  Rides, games and family attractions provide another option for families looking to spend the holiday close to home.

Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest periods of summer on Long Island, especially at beaches, Fire Island ferry terminals and destinations across the East End. Allow extra travel time, arrive early where parking is limited and confirm schedules or ticket availability with individual organizers before leaving. Whether the plan is a powwow in Southampton, apple picking on the North Fork, a concert at Jones Beach or one more afternoon along the ocean, September 4-7 offers plenty of ways to send summer off across the Island.

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