Park It In Long Island

Long Island parks have their fair share of cultural offerings. Whether you're feeling up for iambic pentameter, or just a concert and a picnic, the Island is a choice destination for summer outdoor fun.

Long Island Shakespeare Festival

"Twelfth Night"
Bayard Cutting Arboretum
Montauk Highway
Oakdale, NY
July 26 & 27, Aug. 23 & 24
5:30 p.m.

"Twelfth Night"
Caumsett State Historic Park
West Neck Road in Lloyd Neck
Aug. 9 & 10
5:30 p.m.

4th Annual Caumsett Summer Cultural
Arts Festival

Caumsett State Historic Park
(631) 423-1770
www.nysparks.com

The Caumsett Summer Cultural Arts Festival offers a variety of free entertainment such as children's classic theatrical performances, educational performances and Shakespeare in the Park.

A vehicle-use fee will be in effect and all of these free outdoor performances will be in the Walled Garden. Participants are encouraged to bring their own beach chairs or blankets as seating will be on a first come, first serve basis.

June 28, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.-From Moo to You
June 29, 5:30 p.m.-Social Security
July 12, 3 p.m.-Jester Jim Juggling Show
July 13, 3 p.m.-Emperor's New Clothes
July 19, 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.-Honey Bees
July 20, 5:30 p.m.-Anything Goes
July 26, 3 p.m.-Punches Magic Lamp Puppet Show
Aug. 2, 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.-Everything But the Oink
Aug. 9, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.-From Fleece to Fabric
Aug. 16, 3 p.m.-Professor Bellini and the Red Spaghetti Orchestra
Aug. 17, 3 p.m.-Magic of Mark & Kym

Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY 11793
(516) 221-1000
www.jonesbeach.com

Audience participation is a must at the Jones Beach bandshell.

Located on the South Shore of Nassau County, Jones Beach acts as one of the premier outdoor tanning areas for all New Yorkers. Having 6.5 miles of sand, Jones Beach becomes an oasis of barely clad visitors looking out and venturing into the Atlantic Ocean once the temperature reaches above 70 degrees.

The state park is not all beach, however. There's a two-mile long boardwalk, the Jones Beach Theater, the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center and a "Castles in the Sand" photo exhibit located at the East Bath House. There's also two swimming pools, four miles of bike path, basketball courts, dining, miniature golf and deck games.

The cost of admission is $8, and be prepared and bring plenty of suntan lotion, a blanket and your swim trunks. Visitors can also get to the beach by way of bus, but for those who drive, on a hot sunny day, there's usually traffic and don't forget where you parked - the lots are big and they fill fast. There's also Nikon at Jones Beach Theater which features the following artists this summer.

June 27- Doobie Brothers
June 28- Stevie Nicks
July 8- Motley Crue
July 9- John Mayer
July 10- John Mellencamp
July 11- Steve Miller Band
July 13- Phil Lesh
July 14- Rush
July 19- Donna Summer
July 22- Linkin Park
July 25- Martina McBride
July 28- Sheryl Crow
July 30- Poison
July 31 & Aug.1- Maroon 5
Aug. 2- OAR- Of A Revolution
Aug. 3- Rock the Bells
Aug. 4-5- The Police
Aug. 6- Stone Temple Pilots
Aug. 8 - Jonas Brothers
Aug. 9- Jethro Tull
Aug. 10- Judas Priest
Aug. 12- Boston
Aug. 13- Allman Brothers
Aug. 14- Journey
Aug. 19- Rod Stewart
Aug. 22- Human League
Aug. 23- KTUs Beatstock
Aug. 27- Jimmy Buffet

Music Under The Stars -
Oyster Bay

Monday - Saturday at 8 p.m.
(516) 797-7923
www.oysterbaytown.com

Listening to live music is nice, but listening to it outside on a cool summer night is utterly sublime. And thanks to Music Under the Stars, a series of public concerts held outdoors at sites around Oyster Bay, a pleasant, music filled evening is never more than a weekend away.

Presenting a wide range of musical tastes - from Tony Orlando to The Broadway Exchange - the concerts are meant to appeal to a variety of people.

Every week, the concerts take place at a different location in towns such as Massapequa and Bethpage. Call the number above or check the Web site for more details. The best part: all of them are free.

July 7-Dean Karahalis and the Concert Pops of Long Island, 7 p.m. Ellsworth Allen Town Park, Motor Avenue, Farmingdale
July 8-Tony Orlando. John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
July 11-The Broadway Exchange: Music and Dance straight from Broadway. Tappen Beach, Shore Road, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head
July 12-Children's Festival, 3 p.m. Featuring the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, 5 p.m. Free food, fun and games. John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
July 14-Comedian "Uncle Floyd" and Julius La Rosa. Ellsworth Allen Town Park, Motor Avenue, Farmingdale
July 15-Eartha Kitt, 7 p.m. John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
July 19-"Salute to America" with David Rodriguez and United We Sing, 7:45 p.m. Fireworks by Grucci
John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
July 23-Sound on Sound, Music from swing to today's hits. Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury
July 25-The Cast of Beatlemania- the ultimate Beatles tribute band. Theodore Roosevelt Beach, Larabee Avenue, Oyster Bay
July 29-Air Supply. John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa Aug. 1-Stayin Alive (Bee Gees Tribute Band) and ABBAmania (the sights and sounds of ABBA). Hicksville High School Field, Newbridge Road Entrance
Aug. 2-Patty Smyth & Scandal. John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
Aug. 4-Soul Be It: "New York's Funk Solution." H.B. Mattlin Middle School, Washington Avenue, Plainview
Aug. 5-Maxine Nightingale and Gloria Gaynor (30th Anniversary of hit song "I Will Survive"). John J. Burns Town Park, Merrick Road, Massapequa
Aug. 6-Pacing Grace (winner of "2008 Best on Long Island" young band) with Big Shot (Billy Joel tribue band). Theodore Roosevelt Beach, Larabee Avenue, Oyster Bay
Aug. 7-Joe Kane Big Band: "A Tribute to Benny Goodman," 7 p.m. John F. Kennedy Middle School, Broadway, Bethpage
Aug. 12-The Spindoctors. Hicksville High School Field, Newbridge Road Entrance, Hicksville

For full schedule please consult their Web site.