Mattituck Street Fair Returns to Old Sound Avenue This July

The Mattituck Street Fair returns to Old Sound Avenue this July.

The 46th annual fair, hosted by the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce, will feature the popular Little Miss and Little Mister Mattituck competition, along with live music, food options and artisan vendors.

The fair dates back to 1978, and started as a way for the chamber to help promote local businesses and raise money for community projects, according to longtime chamber President Terry McShane.

Vendors this year currently include Valerie DiFeo’s Touchstone Crystal, Twin Stills Moonshine, North Fork Alpacas, David Arteaga photography and Seven Barrels Oil and Vinegar. The Mattituck-Laurel Library will also be bringing an interactive mobile van.

“We encourage our community and businesses to participate,” McShane said. “Our goal is to keep it as authentic as possible with as much handcrafted, creative items as we can get.”

The rain or shine event takes place on the second Saturday of each July, and will be July 13 this year, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Old Sound Avenue at the intersection of Love Lane.

Since the chamber annually sells out of space for the fair, it is asked that anyone looking to be a vendor register early. The fee is $150 per 100 square feet if paid by June 30. The chamber said it reserves the right to reject any merchandise or application it feels is not appropriate for a family-oriented fair.

“This is an annual tradition that brings the local community together and exemplifies the spirit of Mattituck,” chamber treasurer Kelly Fogarty said.

The Little Miss Mattituck competition has also been around since the fair’s inception, with Tess Bannon the first to be crowned, while the Little Mister Mattituck contest started in 2010, when Nicholas Perino was selected. The chamber president said the 6- to 9-year-old winners are chosen based on answers to a series of questions.

“They are asked some tough ones like, ‘What’s your favorite thing to do during summer?’ or ‘What’s your favorite animal?’ And the responses are usually great,” McShane said. “The judging can be based on basically anything. It can be a great answer, or something crazy or just sweet. This is not a pageant in any way — just fun — and every child gets the same prizes in their goody bag, whether they win or not.”

While there are no judging criteria per se, the one caveat is that the contestants need to be year-round Mattituck residents. The children are first sent home from school with a letter from the chamber asking parents if their children would like to compete. The first 15 boys and 15 girls to respond are automatically in.

“Over the years, people have begun reaching out to us about it,” McShane said.

The winners will then get the chance to represent Mattituck at a full slate of events during the year, including appearing in several Mattituck parades.

Raffles, including a 50-50, will also be held at the fair, with about 40 or so donated prizes from local community members and business owners available as prizes. Money raised helps fund a Mattituck High School scholarship for graduating seniors, along with local projects and the chamber’s annual Christmas tree display across the main roads of Mattituck, including Love Lane. Trees are also placed in front of chamber members’ businesses.

The fair follows First Fridays, which happen on Love Lane every first Friday of the month from May through October. At those events, there is also live music along with local shopping and food and beverage vendors.

For more information on food permits and vendor applications, call Fogarty at 631-298-5612. Vendor applications and other details can also be found on the chamber’s website at mattituckchamber.org/street-fair-vendors.