Long Islanders and visitors to Nassau County can get an everything-seasoned doughnut and Oyster Bay beer with honey sourced from Glen Head on Friday for the county’s first "516 Day."

County officials are partnering with local restaurants and other businesses  offering special deals to attract shoppers in a promotion around the county’s 516 area code.

Local officials and small business owners said the event was aimed at keeping money locally in Nassau County to help small businesses.

"516 Day, we believe, will drive foot traffic in our downtown business areas and in our shopping centers," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.

Businesses were invited to participate by the county’s marketing department, who announced the 516 Day theme through local chambers of commerce, Blakeman said. County officials said no county funding is being used for the event.

"Nobody wants to see closed-down stores in our downtowns; we want prosperity, and by recognizing the importance of shopping local and supporting the local businesses," Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said.

The promotion includes more than a dozen businesses, including Coco Confections & Coffee in Sea Cliff and Vice Doughnuts in Farmingdale.

Vice Doughnuts started in a food truck in 2020, before opening a storefront shop. They are offering everything doughnuts with a butter cream cheese filling to simulate an everything bagel.

"We were brainstorming, and I couldn’t come up with a beach theme," said Gina O’Brien, who co-owns the business with her husband. "But when I think of what represents Long Island, I think of a bagel with cream cheese."

Oyster Bay Brewing Co. hosted the county’s kick-off event Thursday. Blakeman and County Comptroller Elaine Phillips toasted a specialty Five One Six Honey Ale, made with locally sourced honey.

Brewery owner Ryan Schlotter said county officials asked if he could make a honey beer after they previously made beers for local golf courses with beekeepers, including Rockville Links and Shinnecock Hills.

The brewery canned the ale using honey from Backyard Bees in Glen Head. The can lists the names of each community in Nassau County while a lager is adorned with the Jones Beach tower and Sagamore Hill.

"I approached Eric Berg, our head brewer, and I said, ‘If we get some local honey, could you make a delicious beer out of it?’ and he nailed it," Schlotter said.  "I think it's a great start. This year's event is a good first year, and we're looking forward to the year after and the year after that, because it's something worth celebrating." 

A list of businesses participating in 516 Day can be seen at nassaucountytourism.com. The participants will also have decals in their windows.