Hulling Night Expected To Go On Despite Rain, Flooding

Despite a less-than-sunny forecast for Thursday night, Hulling Night, the beloved tradition that kicks off the Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival each year, will go on, rain or shine.

Hulling night, which begins at 5 p.m. Thursday and lasts until 11 p.m., is an annual tradition, and will herald the start of the 59th Annual Strawberry Festival.

However, organizers have said if rain and winds become too fierce, a backup plan might be necessary. Stay tuned to Patch for emerging details.

Each year, families and friends gather for the festive event, setting up at long tables under a white tent to start the main event -- hulling.

Hulling a strawberry means, simply, removing its stem and core. And, armed with plastic gloves and virgin strawberry daiquiris, with music playing, crowds of residents take to the task with vigor.

Across the board, the task is a labor of love - and an homage to the joys of a tight-knit community. "My husband Brian and I have done this for the past four years in a row," said Karen Allar, of Mattituck, last year. "It's a great family night with neighbors."

Lynn Summers agreed. "This is the core of the community that turns out to prepare these strawberries," she said. 

And for many, hulling night is meant for sharing with family, old and young. Jen and Fred Boese brought their baby Adelaide last year. "I grew up in Cutchogue," Jen Boese said. "I've come to hulling night since I was a little kid. It makes me feel like I'm home."

For a full Strawberry Festival schedule, click here.