The East End Food And Drink Scene Converging In Calverton

North Meets South, a one-of-a-kind Farms, Food, & Drink Festival, is making its debut this June.

Presented by North Fork Event Company, Inc., on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 a converging of the local farm-to-table movement will highlight “everything good the North and South Forks have to offer” at Long Island Sports Park in Calverton.

“This foodie event is unlike any other event that will be happening this year on Long Island,” Vanessa Rebentisch and Monique Cutone, North Meets South founders, shared. “Our goal is to get as many farmers at the event as possible to raise awareness to the community about the farm-to-table movement and make the local consumer get a better understanding of where & who we get our food from.”

The bi-annual Festival will boast everything from provisions from local farms to bites from local eateries to sips from local breweries, vineyards, and cider houses to classically trained chefs to food eating contests to children and teen activities to live entertainment and much more.

For those with an endless appetite, there will be four eating contests.

“North Meets South – Farms, Food, & Drink Festival has many amazing elements to it, but two special things that are happening in regards to food are our BEST SHUCKER contest and the DOUGHnut eating contest,” the duo noted.

The ‘You Drive Me Glazy DOUGHnut Eating Contest’ will take place on both days at 3 p.m.

“With June 7, 2019 being National Donut Eating Day, we thought it to be fitting that we would have a DOUGHnut eating contest, sponsored by North Fork Doughnut Company in Mattituck. Contestants will be provided plain glazed doughnuts to eat and the winner will be decided by who finishes their allotted donuts first,” Rebentisch and Cutone said.

The ‘Best Shucker Oyster Eating Contest’ will take place a little later, at 5 p.m. on both days. “This BEST SHUCKER contest will be an Oyster Eater Competition for the community,” they added. “The person who eats and shucks thirty oysters in the shortest period of time wins. Two Oyster Farms will be donating their Oysters (Bantam Creek Oyster Company & Yennicott Oysters) and the winner will receive acknowledgement on our website, festival t-shirt, and an additional to-be-determined prize.”

The Corn Hole Tournament will kick-off the competitive happenings at 12 p.m. on both days.

“Patrons will be able to pre-sign up through website, mail, or upon arrival at the door for both contests. There will be an entry fee for contests,” Rebentisch and Cutone explained.

Live music will feature Jen Kane, Butterfly Cody Experience, and Who Are Those Guys on Saturday, June 8 and Brady Rymer, Southbound, and Paris Ray on Sunday, June 9.

Additionally, there will be interactive games for children such as, potato sack races, parachute games, tug-of-war and more. Little ones can also enjoy inflatable houses, games, and slides, petting zoo, pony rides and more.

The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue will present a ‘Birds of Prey’ show on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., while Yarn & Farm will be showcase an exciting variety of exotic animals for the public to meet with on both days.

The East End Arts Council will takeover the main building, highlighting a gorgeous selection of art created by community members.

North Meets South participants will include Founders Oyster Farm, Southold Bay Oysters, Peconic Pearls, Yennicott Oysters, Bantam Creek Oyster Company, Green Hill Kitchen, Mattitaco, East on Main, North Fork Doughnut Company, Long Island Famous Foods, Sail Away Coffee, North Fork Coffee Roasters, Dougs Lemonade, Grace and Grit, Lucharitos, Meats Meat, Kona Ice of Long Island, Pipini Breads, Chenza’s, Blue Duck Bakery, The Perfect Pickle, Greenport Jerky Company, Bostwicks Chowder House, Johns Drive-In, Green Street Food Truck, Knot of This World Pretzels, Long Island Famous Foods, King Andrew Cheese, Cupcakes and Everything Chocolate, Coastal Kraft Kombucha, Borghese Winery, Farrm Wine, Westhampton Beach Brewery, Long Ireland Brewery, Old Tymer Moonshine, Tilth & Smoke Farm, Green Boss Farm, Malik Farms, Holy Schmitts, Catapano, Zilnicki Farms, 1760 Homestead Farm, and more.

North Meets South will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.

Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Entry for children 12-years-old and under is free.

Long Island Sports Park is located at 149 Edwards Avenue in Calverton. For more information, visit www.northforkevent.com.