May is a wonderful time to get together with friends and family to explore Nassau and Suffolk. The sun is shining and flowers are blooming everywhere. Here’s a sampling of things to do and places to visit on Long Island in May.
Ongoing
- What: Nassau County Museum of Art’s Sculpture Park. Now that the weather is warmer, step outside and enjoy more than 50 works of art, displayed outdoors in the museum’s 145-acre property. The artists represented include Fernando Botero, Alexander Calder and Tom Otterness.
Where: The Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Drive (just off Northern Boulevard), Roslyn Harbor
Cost: $2 parking fee on weekends.
More Info: Call (516) 484-9337 or visit the Nassau County Museum of Art website.
Ongoing through the end of the year
- What: FIRST FRIDAYS. Every first Friday of the month, the Heckscher Museum of Art offers free admission after 5 p.m. From 7 to 8:30 p.m., you'll enjoy live musical entertainment and light refreshments.
When: After 5 p.m.
Where: Heckscher Museum of Art, Two Prime Avenue, Huntington
Cost: **FREE** after 5 p.m., only on the first Friday of every month.
More Info: Call (631)351-3250 or visit Heckscher Museum of Art.
Ongoing, every Monday night
- What: Comedy Show/Open Mic
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Fins Pub, 4608 Sunrise Highway, Oakdale
Cost: Free admission, but limited seating, so call in advance.
More Info: Call (631) 645-5152 or visit the Comedy at Fins website.
Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3
- What: The 7th Annual Long Island Comedy Festival. The festival will include comedians like Mad TV original cast member Artie Lange, plus Kevin Meaney, Adam Ferrera, Richie Minervini and Joe Starr.
When: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m.
Where: Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury.
Cost: $51 and up.
More Info: For more information and to purchase tickets, go to Live Nation.
Saturday, May 2
- What: Sayville's 19th Annual Earth Day Celebration features performers, live music, animal exhibits, educational workshops, displays and more .
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Gillette Park, Sayville
Cost: FREE
More Info: Call (631) 224-5650
Sunday, May 3
- What: 26th Annual Dutch Festival at Hofstra University. This year’s festival will feature classical jazz music. Shop with local vendors, stroll the gardens or buy plants. Children will enjoy magic, puppets and crafts activities.
Where: Hofstra University’s South Campus – Playhouse Quad, Hempstead. Note: the festival is outdoors and there is no rain date.
When: Starts at 11 a.m. Events all day and raffle at 5 p.m.
Cost: Suggested donation of $5 for adults, free for children under 12.
More Info: Call the Festival Hotline at (516) 463-6582.
- What: Chamber Players International’s Musical Cuisine series presents its fifth brunch and concert of its 2008-2009 season, celebrating the music of Dvorak and Cesar Franck. Admission is $60 per person with group rates available. For reservations (required) and information, contact Chamber Players International toll-free at (877) 444-4488.
When: The program begins with a champagne brunch buffet at 12 noon followed by the concert at 1:30 PM.
Where: The DeSeversky Conference Center on the campus of New York Institute of Technology, Northern Boulevard in Old Westbury.
Cost: $60 per person. (Group rates are available. Call for information.)
More Info: Reservations are required. Call Chamber Players International at (877)444-4488.
Friday, May 8
- What: East Northport Rotary and Northport Community Orchestra will present The Concert for Clean Water, a program featuring cellist Peter Handford, performing Kol Nidre by Max Bruch as well as Symphony No.104 by Haydn and excerpts from Handel’s Water Music Suite. A complimentary dessert buffest will follow. The concert is a fund-raising benefit for the Rotary-sponsored clean water project in Haiti and for the orchestra.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: East Northport Middle School, 1075 Fifth Avenue (east of Larkfield Road), East Northport
Cost: $25, cash or check only.
More Info:Call (631) 757-8166 for reservations or visit the Northport Community Orchestra for more information.
Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9
- What:An Evening of Dinner & Theater. The Hedges Inn will host a pre-theater dinner for the Springs Community Theater performance of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes.
When: Dinner from 5:30 to, performance at 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Dinner at The Hedges Inn, 74 James Lane, East Hampton, and the performance at the nearby John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton.
Cost: Dinner and theater tickets are $65 per person, plus the cost of beverages, tax and tip.
More Info: For more information, go to or call (631) 324-7101. To purchase tickets, call (866) 811-4111 or visit Theatermania.
Sunday, May 10
- What: Student Musicians from Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts – A Mother’s Day concert.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, on the C.W. Post Campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville.
Cost: $20. Seniors and students: $10.
More Info: Purchase tickets in person at Tilles Center's box office (open Monday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m.) or by phone at (516) 299-3100. You can also buy tickets at Tilles Center or through Ticketmaster.
