“Stinkiest Festival on Long Island” Returns for 24th Annual Celebration September 12-13, 2026 (UPDATED)

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – One of Long Island’s most distinctive fall traditions will return to the North Fork when the 24th Annual Long Island Garlic Festival takes place at Waterdrinker North Fork in Riverhead on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026.

The two-day celebration, promoted by its organizers as the “Stinkiest Festival on Long Island,” will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. Admission is listed at $20 per person and includes access to the farm’s field activities.

Garlic Takes Center Stage in Riverhead

The Long Island Garlic Festival celebrates the region’s harvest season with garlic-inspired foods, local vendors, food trucks, live music, and family entertainment spread across Waterdrinker’s 40-acre North Fork farm.

Visitors will be able to browse the vendor market and sample a variety of garlicky creations. Waterdrinker has confirmed that festival favorites will include garlic butter roasted corn, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and the farm’s well-known garlic ice cream.

Garlic ice cream has become one of the event’s most talked-about attractions, offering adventurous visitors an opportunity to experience the familiar savory ingredient in an unexpected dessert. Other vendors may offer sauces, seasonings, spreads, prepared foods, and specialty products, although individual menus and vendor selections may vary.

Family Activities Across the Farm

The festival is designed as more than a food event. Admission includes access to Waterdrinker’s field activities, giving families several ways to enjoy the beginning of the fall season while exploring the farm.

• Pumpkin patch: Visitors can walk through the farm’s seasonal pumpkin-growing area.
• Corn maze: Guests can explore the farm’s maze as part of the day’s activities.
• Garlic scavenger hunt: The garlic-themed search gives children and families an interactive way to explore the grounds.
• Waterdrinker hayride: Festival admission includes access to a ride through portions of the farm.
• Vendor market: Local and regional vendors will offer food, products, and garlic-related goods.
• Food trucks: A selection of mobile food vendors will serve festival visitors throughout the weekend.
• Live music: Musical entertainment is scheduled as part of the two-day celebration.
• Family activities: Additional activities will be available around the farm during festival hours.

The combination of food, agriculture, live entertainment, and outdoor activities allows visitors to spend several hours at the festival rather than attending solely for a meal or vendor market.

A Celebration of Long Island’s Harvest Season

Although garlic remains the central theme, the festival also serves as an early celebration of autumn on the East End. The September event arrives as farms across the region begin transitioning from summer crops and sunflower attractions to pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides, and other seasonal activities.

Waterdrinker describes the festival as an opportunity to support local vendors, enjoy the harvest season, and experience the farm’s attractions. Its location along Sound Avenue also places visitors near many of the farm stands, agricultural destinations, vineyards, and small communities that define this portion of the North Fork.

Event Snapshot

📍 Location: Waterdrinker North Fork, 4560 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
📅 Dates: Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026
⏰ Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days
🎟 Admission: $20 per person
🧄 Featured food: Garlic ice cream and garlic butter roasted corn
🎶 Activities: Live music, vendor market, food trucks, pumpkin patch, corn maze, garlic scavenger hunt, hayride, and family activities
🌐 Official information: Waterdrinker Long Island Garlic Festival

What to Know Before Visiting

The festival takes place outdoors on a working farm, so visitors should prepare for changing September weather and uneven ground. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, particularly for guests planning to explore the pumpkin patch, corn maze, scavenger hunt, and other field activities.

Festival activities, participating vendors, food selections, and operating details can change because of weather, availability, or other circumstances. Visitors should check the official Waterdrinker festival page before traveling for the latest announcements and any updated admission information.

Garlic Foods to Look For

The exact vendor lineup and menus may vary, but several garlic-centered foods and products are likely to attract attention during the weekend.

1. Garlic Ice Cream
   Waterdrinker specifically promotes garlic ice cream as one of the festival’s signature foods. The unusual dessert is a popular choice for visitors who want to try something they are unlikely to find at an ordinary farm stand.
2. Garlic Butter Roasted Corn
   Fresh roasted corn topped with garlic butter is another featured festival food confirmed by the farm.
3. Garlic Sauces and Seasonings
   Specialty vendors at garlic festivals commonly offer sauces, seasoning blends, marinades, and other products that visitors can use at home.
4. Garlic Spreads and Dips
   Prepared spreads, dips, and similar products allow visitors to sample different garlic varieties and flavor combinations.
5. Food Truck Specialties
   Participating food trucks may incorporate garlic into sandwiches, snacks, side dishes, and other festival foods, depending on the 2026 vendor lineup.

Visitors looking for a family-friendly way to welcome the fall season can combine unusual garlic foods with live entertainment and traditional farm activities during the 24th Annual Long Island Garlic Festival. The event will take place September 12 and 13, 2026, at Waterdrinker North Fork in Riverhead.