600 + People Attend Caleb Smith Preserve's First Annual Fall Festival

Kalliroi Tetrault becomes a cat through the talents of her face-painter Mom Irene.Jared Tetrault shows a youngster how to play the pinecone/hoop Native American game, as Carole, and Peter Paquette in Revolutionary War dress, watch.Carol Tokosh was busy at the craft table.

by - Carole Paquette

More than 600 visitors attended the Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve’s first annual Fall Festival held at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown on Sunday, October 5. The sun shone brightly as festival-goers enjoyed lunch and ice cream under a big tent while listening to live music, they watched demonstrations by the Long Island Falconers and took nature walks with popular naturalists.  Children fished on the peninsula at Willow Pond, played Colonial and Native American games, made crafts, had their faces painted, photos taken in a poster of a big fish, and went home with free pumpkins. 

Pumpkins at first annual Fall FestivalWith decorated hands, Sara Leavens and Megan O’Haire hold their free pumpkins Michael and Joanne D’Agostino, founders of the Friends group, proclaimed the event “a huge success”. 

Mr. D’Agostino, who is the group’s main photographer, was amazed at the turnout, “The purpose of the event was to make people aware of the park. As far as I can remember, it is the largest number that ever came.”

“It was so heartening to see so many young people coming in and enjoying all the activities we had planned,” said Mrs. D’Agostino.