Hello Nassau! Let’s Talk What’s New & What’s Next
Happy Tuesday! We’ve got your daily roundup of what’s happening across Nassau County—spotlighting good news, great food, and can’t-miss community events. Let’s dive in and see what’s making waves today.

Fun Fact Spotlight:
Bailey Arboretum features an accredited Children’s Habitat™ outdoor classroom and a sensory garden described as handicap‑accessible. Visitors report wheelchair‑accessible parking and entrances, making it one of the more accessible gardens on Long Island.

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Today’s Edition: 
💰 Hempstead's 2026 Budget: Tax Relief for Locals
🏥 New Medical Center Opens in Oceanside
💪 New Fitness Hub Coming to Mineola
🎸Stray Cats Rock Long Island Again
🍁 Discover Nature & Legacy at Bailey Arboretum This Fall
🗓️ Upcoming Events and Things To Do!

💰 Hempstead's 2026 Budget: Tax Relief for Locals

The Hempstead Town Board has just given the green light to a $576 million budget for 2026. The best part? Local residents won't see their town-wide taxes go up, even though overall spending is increasing.

The new budget is $26.5 million more than last year. To keep taxes steady, the town is using $56 million from its reserve fund. Here's what's interesting: while the general fund tax levy dropped by 18%, special district taxes went up by about 5%.

Town Supervisor John Ferretti promises this budget will help locals save money. "This $5 million tax cut represents real relief for our residents," he says. The town plans to keep investing in parks, roads, and other local services that make Hempstead a great place to live.

Read More →

A Local's Guide to the Best Public Beaches in Nassau County, NY

Discover the top public beaches in Nassau County, NY. Our guide covers Jones Beach, Lido, Nickerson, and Tobay for peaceful fall walks and year-round beauty.

NEWSBites

🏥 New Medical Center Opens in Oceanside

Mount Sinai South Nassau showed off its brand new Feil Family Pavilion this week. The $161 million building features modern emergency and intensive care units to better serve the local community.

💪 New Fitness Hub Coming to Mineola

A fresh spot for working out and healing is coming to Jericho Turnpike. The combo personal training gym and physical therapy practice will offer custom fitness programs and rehab services when it opens in early 2026.

🎸 Stray Cats Rock Long Island Again

After six years away, hometown heroes Stray Cats are coming back to their roots. The rockabilly legends will play Westbury Music Fair on November 5, featuring the original lineup of Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, and Lee Rocker.

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🌤️ WeatherWatch

☁️ Tuesday, October 28
High: 54°F | Low: 42°F
🌥️ 3% chance — increasing cloudiness

🌧️ Wednesday, October 29
High: 52°F | Low: 44°F
💧 54% chance — rain and overcast skies

Discover Nature & Legacy at Bailey Arboretum This Fall 🍁

Walk Through History. Breathe In Beauty.
Once the summer estate of horticulturist Frank Bailey, this 40-acre haven in Locust Valley is now one of Nassau County’s best-kept gems. With every step beneath fiery fall leaves, you walk the same paths where one man’s passion for plants became a living museum.

Today, Bailey Arboretum offers a peaceful escape for visitors of all ages. Whether you're looking to admire heritage trees, stroll serene trails, or simply reconnect with nature — there's no better time than now.

Visit this October and experience why Bailey is not just a garden — it's a story still growing.

📍 194 Bayville Road, Locust Valley, NY
🌐 baileyarboretum.org

🎡Fair Days & Fun Ways

What’s Happening This Weekend in Nassau County

Saturday, November 1st

Seaford Farmers Market
📍 Railroad Street, Seaford Railroad Station
(Corner of Washington Ave & Sunrise Hwy)
7:00 AM | Seaford, NY

Halloween Parade 
📍 Merrick, NY
11:00 AM | Merrick, NY

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Cats & Candy Corn
📍 The Bristal at Westbury
12:00 PM | Westbury, NY

🧸 Kid-Friendly
70th Annual Long Island Chrysanthemum Show
📍 Starkie Bros. Garden Center
12:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse
📍 The Gateway
7:00 PM | Bellport, NY

Sunday, November 2nd

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Harvest Festival 2025 @ One Life
📍 3147 Eastern Pkwy
12:30 PM | Merrick, NY

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Baldwin High School Class of 2026 Community Yard Sale Fundraiser
📍 Baldwin Community Garden
10:00 AM | Baldwin, NY

Rockville Centre Farmers Market
📍 510 Sunrise Highway
7:00 AM | Rockville Centre

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Snoopy’s Fall Festival
📍 United Skates of America
12:00 PM | Seaford, NY

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Royal Sneaker Ball
📍 HilliArts Studio
4:00 PM | Port Washington, NY

📣 Civic & Social Happenings

Tuesday, October 28th

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Trick or Treat with Stew's Characters!
📍 Stew Leonard's Farmingdale
4:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

Wednesday, October 29th

The Enchanted Autumn Vendor Showcase
📍 Jericho Terrace
6:00 PM | Mineola, NY

Paint N’ Sip – Oogie Boogie & Zero Pumpkin
(Nightmare Before Christmas!)
📍 Necromantic Brew Co
7:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

Thursday, October 30th

Scouting America, Theodore Roosevelt Council, Cigar Dinner
📍 The Inn at New Hyde Park
6:00 PM | New Hyde Park, NY

One Year of Silent Book Club Glen Cove: Read, Shop & Celebrate
📍 Jeanine’s American Bistro
6:00 PM | Glen Cove, NY

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Screening
📍 The Merrick Library
6:00 PM | Merrick

Friday, October 31st

Farmingdale Official Halloween Bar Crawl
📍 The Coop Nashville Kitchen Bar & Lounge
5:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

Spooky Halloween Yoga Class
📍 Revolution Yoga
5:15 PM | Rockville Centre, NY

Halloween Party at The Rose Room Speakeasy
📍 The Garden City Hotel
7:00 PM | Garden City, NY

The Extraordinary Card Magic of Jason Ladanye
📍 Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street
7:00 PM | Port Washington, NY

Saturday, November 1st

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Long Island Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk
📍 Eisenhower Park
9:00 AM | East Meadow

A Golden Girls Murder Mystery at Allegria Hotel
📍 Allegria Hotel
1:00 PM | Long Beach, NY

WRC 25th Anniversary Banquet
📍 Verdi’s of Westbury
1:00 PM | Westbury, NY

Farmingdale Day of the Dead Bar Crawl – Día de Muertos
📍 The Coop Nashville Kitchen Bar & Lounge
4:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

Sunday, November 2nd

🧸 Kid-Friendly
MTS 50th Anniversary Banquet – Anchored in Grace
📍 Leonard’s Palazzo
12:00 PM | Great Neck, NY

Dinner & a Movie – Back to the Future!
📍 Dave & Buster’s Westbury
4:45 PM | Westbury, NY

Emer Dunne and Band Presents Folk Threads Tour
📍 Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk & Queens
6:00 PM | Mineola, NY

🏈 Sports Events 

Tuesday, October 28th

New Jersey Titans vs. Maryland Black Bears
📍 Middletown Sports Complex
Puck Drop 7:00 PM | Middletown, NJ

Wednesday, October 29th

Bridgeport Islanders vs. Hershey Bears
📍 Total Mortgage Arena
Puck Drop 7:00 PM | Bridgeport, CT

Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks
📍 Barclays Center
Tip-Off 7:30 PM | Brooklyn, NY

Friday, October 31st

Princeton Tigers vs. Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks
📍 Hobey Baker Rink
Puck Drop 7:00 PM | Princeton, NJ

Danbury Hat Tricks vs. Watertown Wolves
📍 Danbury Arena
Puck Drop 7:30 PM | Danbury, CT

Saturday, November 1st

Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. New Haven Chargers
📍 Campus Field
Kickoff 12:00 PM | Fairfield, CT

MLS Cup First Round: New York City FC vs. Charlotte FC
📍 Yankee Stadium
Kickoff 3:30 PM | Bronx, NY

Princeton Tigers vs. Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks
📍 Hobey Baker Rink
Puck Drop 7:00 PM | Princeton, NJ

Danbury Hat Tricks vs. Watertown Wolves
📍 Danbury Arena
Puck Drop 7:00 PM | Danbury, CT

NWCA All-Star Classic
📍 Jersey Mike’s Arena
Start Time 7:00 PM | Piscataway, NJ

Sunday, November 2nd

In-Person Spring 2026 Baseball & Softball Registration – Option 1
📍 Greis Park
1:00 PM | Lynbrook, NY

New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers
📍 MetLife Stadium
Kickoff 1:00 PM | East Rutherford, NJ

Bridgeport Islanders vs. Springfield Thunderbirds
📍 Total Mortgage Arena
Puck Drop 3:00 PM | Bridgeport, CT

Singles Pickleball Mixer Westbury (Ages 20s, 30s, 40s+)
📍 SPORTIME Pickleball Westbury
4:30 PM | Westbury, NY

New York Islanders vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
📍 UBS Arena
Puck Drop 5:00 PM | Elmont, NY

Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
📍 Barclays Center
Tip-Off 6:00 PM | Brooklyn, NY

New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls
📍 Madison Square Garden
Tip-Off 7:00 PM | New York, NY

Scroll down and tap “Click here to view all 516 Update events” to see all weekend fairs with more information.

🎸 Live Music

Thursday, October 30th

Thursday Jazz Returns to Speak Easy Tapas Bar
📍 Speak Easy Tapas Bar
6:30 PM | East Rockaway, NY

Dave & Joey – Two Bethpage Dudes Back at Campagne House
(Pre-Halloween Bash!)
📍 Campagne House
7:00 PM | Bethpage, NY

Friday, October 31st

Live Music by Logan Whaley Band
📍 306 Main Street
6:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

Saturday, November 1st

Off The Record Live at Cabana
📍 Cabana Mexican American Restaurant
2:30 PM | Long Beach, NY

County Line Live at Joseph Barry K of C Country Night
📍 Knights of Columbus Joseph Barry Council #2520
7:00 PM | Hicksville, NY

14th Annual Monsters of Freestyle Concert
📍 Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair
7:30 PM | Westbury, NY

Long Beach Hotel Halloween Party
📍 Long Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom
8:00 PM | Long Beach, NY

Sunday, November 2nd

🧸 Kid-Friendly
Distinguished Artists: Just Sixties
📍 Hicksville Public Library
2:00 PM | Hicksville, NY

Landmark Radio Theater: Queen of the Skies
📍 Landmark on Main Street
4:00 PM | Port Washington, NY

Olivia & Grease vs. Dolly & Divas
📍 My Father’s Place at The Roslyn
5:00 PM | Roslyn, NY

🎉 Got an Event? Let’s Get It Listed!
From live music to local sports, fairs to fundraisers—if it’s happening in Nassau, we want to share it with our readers!
👉 Submit your event here: [email protected]

Thanks for reading this week’s 516 Update! We hope you found something to enjoy, explore, or share. Please share this with a friend or family member-we would really appreciate it!