Thousands Pack Park for Festival

Ethnic food, music, an unplanned swim in the pond, and line dancing were among the many features of the second day of the Long Island Fall Festival Saturday at Heckscher Park.

Saturday was the first of two days that hundreds of vendors ring the park, selling everything from pizza to financial expertise to lessons in salsa dancing, jewelry, and various causes. Political views were on full display, with one group displaying a sign denouncing the liberal media and candidates roaming the crowd ot introduce themselves.

Thousands of people came out, stopping by stages to listen to music or dance, ate, lined up for rides at the carnival and shopped at booths.

It was Assemb. Andrew Raia, R-Northport, who ended up in the water of Heckscher Park when a kayak he later described as unstable tipped over during a remote-controlled model boat race. Other than getting soaked and needing to change his clothes, Raia was unharmed.

Sunday, the festival runs from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Also set for Sunday is the Columbus Day parade, which runs along Main Street, starting at 12:30 p.m.