LI Craft Beer Festival To Return To East Islip, After 3 -Year Hiatus

EAST ISLIP, NY — After a three-year hiatus, a popular craft beer event will be returning to the island.

The Long Island Craft Classic will take place on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Heckscher State Park Field 2 in East Islip.

More than 50 vendors are expected to be featured, to showcase their unique craft beers, ciders, seltzers, wines.

Andy Calimano, the co-founder and managing partner of the event, said that 18 vendors are Long Island-based.

"There are 60 breweries on Long Island," he said. "So we almost have a third of the breweries."

A portion of the ticket proceeds will go toward Kids Need More, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and families coping with cancer and life-threatening illnesses. The charity creates several summer camp programs each year.

"It's a a lot of fun for the kids," said Calimano. "As best as they can, they forget about everything and just have a good time."

General admission tickets are $70 online and $80 in person, and include samples of all beer, wine, cider and seltzer tastings, one food item from the event caterer, and a tasting cup.

Participants can also purchase a designated driver ticket for $20. This includes a food voucher and a bottle of water, but holders are not permitted to sample alcohol, and must be 21 years or older.

"This is the only beer festival that I know of where you get a sandwich and a side dish included in your ticket price," he said. "It's all included, so you don't have to worry about any additional costs."

The festival originally began 15 years ago, Calimano said, under the name "North Fork Craft Beer Barbecue and Wine Festival" and took place at Martha Clara Vineyard.

In 2013, the event moved to Heckscher State Park, and was renamed the Long Island Craft Classic. The festival occurred there for six consecutive years, until the pandemic put things on hiatus.

Calimano said that it's "extremely exciting" to organize the event again.

"Heckscher State Park is such a beautiful park," he said. "It's just a very enjoyable time."

To learn more about and to purchase tickets for the Long Island Craft Classic, click here.

To learn more about Kids Need More, click here.