May 17, 2026 · Updated May 17, 2026
Memorial Day weekend arrives May 23, and Long Island is firing up its summer calendar early. From a free craft fair at the Smithtown Historical Society to the weekly arts market on Long Beach boardwalk and the America250 celebration at Jones Beach, here are five things worth putting on your calendar for May 17 through 25.
Long Island's summer calendar gets its first real workout this week, with beach lifeguards arriving May 23 at state parks across the south shore, a free craft fair in Smithtown, and a national celebration at Jones Beach that has been building for months.
Whether you stay close to home or make the drive east, here are five things worth your weekend between now and May 25.
Kennedy Plaza in Long Beach hosts its weekly outdoor arts market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., a run that stretches from May 23 through October 24. The market features handcrafted work by Long Island artists alongside live music. Admission is free.
Long Beach's boardwalk is a natural draw on clear days. The plaza sits at the foot of Park Avenue, with street parking and the Long Beach train station a short walk away. Given the current LIRR shutdown, check mta.info for bus and ferry alternatives before making the trip by train.
Kennedy Plaza, Long Beach, NY 11561. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 23 through Oct. 24. Free.
The Smithtown Historical Society grounds at 211 East Main Street will host 100 local craft and gift vendors on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food trucks and live music fill out the weekend, and both days are free to attend.
The fair draws handcrafted jewelry, home goods, and original artwork from vendors across Long Island and the metro area. Parking is free on the historical society property. The grounds sit on a quiet stretch of Route 25A in Smithtown Village, close to Kings Park and Hauppauge.
211 East Main Street, Smithtown, NY 11787. May 23 and 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.
Lifeguards go on duty Memorial Day weekend at Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Sunken Meadow, and Hither Hills state parks, as well as at Town of Hempstead beaches. Parking at state parks costs $10 per vehicle.
Robert Moses State Park runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends starting May 23. Jones Beach, with six and a half miles of Atlantic shoreline divided into distinct parking fields, offers concessions, outdoor showers, and the Northwell Health Jones Beach Theater for summer concerts.
Water temperatures in late May hover around 60 degrees, cold for swimming but fine for wading. Arrive early: south shore state park lots fill before 9 a.m. on holiday weekends.
A celebration tied to the national America250 anniversary is scheduled at Jones Beach State Park on Saturday, May 24. New York State Parks has designated the event as a signature moment in the statewide 250th anniversary calendar, drawing significantly larger crowds than a typical May weekend.
Carpooling is strongly recommended. On large-event days the Ocean Parkway parking fields fill before 10 a.m. Admission to the grounds is free with $10 parking.
Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh, NY 11793. May 24, 2026. $10 parking.
The Herricks Community Fund Carnival runs May 28 through May 31 at the Herricks Community Center, 999 Herricks Rd, New Hyde Park. The annual fundraiser draws families from across Nassau County for rides, games, food, and family activities across four nights.
Admission to the grounds is generally free. Ride tickets are purchased on site. The carnival opens Thursday and Friday evenings and runs afternoon and evening sessions on the weekend.
999 Herricks Rd, New Hyde Park, NY 11040. May 28 through 31, 2026. Free grounds admission; ride tickets on site.
The LIRR remains shut down as of Sunday morning, with the MTA and unions still negotiating a contract settlement. MTA is operating expanded bus service on several key routes. Check mta.info for the most current service options before making any travel plans that would normally involve the railroad.
