Hempstead Harbor Beach Park's Grande Festa Italiana has already gotten started, and will be running all weekend with the standard festival fare of food, music and rides. Fireworks are scheduled for Sunday night. Also in Port Washington this weekend is the Medieval Festival at Sand's Point Preserve. Shows and demonstrations of jousting, archery and period music are just the warmup for the storming of the castle.

Saturday is the day most likely to be a washout, but as of Friday morning the worst of the storm should not be arriving until late in the day. The Bay Shore Harbor Fest & Parade of Boats has already been moved to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There will be food, music, games and children's activities to go along with the flotilla of boats cruising past the Bay Shore marina. Check their website for continuing updates should the storm linger.

The Waterside Festival at Ransom Beach in Bayville is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It's mostly an arts & crafts show, but it's a rare opportunity for non-residents of Bayville to check out the beach there without taking out a second mortgage while it's still warm. Kids who are bored with the crafts can find fun at the nearby Bayville Adventure Park.

The storm's effects should make for some exciting flights at two events on Sunday where kites are taking to the skies. The Jones Beach Outdoor Expo on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. features kiteboarding demonstrations to go along with nautical-themed activites, crafts and many hands-on displays of marine life. Also on Sunday in the same vicinity, the annual 9/11 Freedom Flight will be taking place at Long Beach from noon to 4:00 p.m. As a tribute to the people lost on September 11th and all those who came out to help in the aftermath, dozens of colorful kites will take to the sky in a celebration of community spirit.

If staying away from the shore sounds like a better plan to you, the Family Activity Center at Heckscher brings out Heckscher Park's childrens mascot Huey for art activities from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Nesconset Day fair at Nesconset Plaza is a street fair with pony rides and a petting zoo from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. In Merrick, the annual Fall Festival is running all weekend with food, games, music and rides on the corner of Sunrise Highway and Merrick Avenue.

Also on Sunday for the car enthusiast, there are two benefit shows. The Cruisin for a Cure car show is being held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Capital One Bank in Melville with proceeds going to benefit prostate cancer screening. Out at the Riverhead Raceway, the Long Island Motorcycle Fair will feature food, concerts and cycle demonstrations to benefit the North Shore Animal League.

Good luck finding some fun this weekend, and stay dry!