Community

Slideshow: Weather turns pitch perfect for Hallockville’s big fall fundraiser

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTOS | East End Ass Whisperers members (from left) Sarah Fogarty, Bernadette and Emily Deerkoski of Mattituck take Diesel on a spin around Hallockville Museum Farm’s field during the 32nd annual Fall Festival Saturday afternoon.

Hallockville Museum Farm’s executive director Herb Strobel said that when he woke early Saturday the overcast skies looked a little ominous for the opening of the 32nd annual Fall Festival.

It is the farm’s biggest fundraiser and, he said, “without it we would be in a big hole for the year. That’s why we get down on one knee and pray for good weather. It keeps the place running, keeps the lights on and is a large chunk of our annual revenue.”

“On a good weekend like this,” he said, “we hope to get 4,000 to 5,000 people over the two days and we have over 100 volunteers that set it up.” He added that ” a lot of our success is due in part to our partnership with the Long Island Antique Power Association.”

The 20-year-old organization, founded by Bruce Young of Riverhead, has a barn on the property and runs the tractor pulls at the farm’s events.

By the time the festival began, there were clear blue skies with a nice cool breeze and high wispy clouds. There were demonstrations by the Basketweavers Guild of Eastern Long Island, Peconic Hookers Guild and the Eastern Long Island Quilters. The East End Livestock and Horsemen’s Association, the East End Ass Whisperers and the Little Red Barn had horses, donkeys on display and pony rides. There were also tours of Hollockville’s 1931 Cichanowicz House and the 1765 Homestead House with Richard Wines who played the part of David Halsey Hallock, who was born in the homestead in 1838 and lived there until he died in 1939.

The Antique Auto Club of America Peconic Bay Region had a dozen or so cars on display. On Sunday September 30th they will be hosting a larger show at Hallockville from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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