#69 Get Set for Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival, Part 1

The event everyone on Long Island waits for every year takes place right here in Bellmore during the third week in September -- the Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores. 

This event is so big and has so much to offer, its features wouldn’t fit in just one week’s “100 Things to Do in Bellmore,” so look for more about it next week in “Part 2”!

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year's street festival features more than 130 first-rate exhibits & attractions in a 25-square-block area extending from the Bellmore Long Island Railroad station and (Pettit Avenue/Main Street) throughout Bedford Avenue. This spectacular event is Nassau County's largest and greatest event of its kind and is host each year to over 120,000 visitors.

Carnival rides start early-- Thursday and Friday nights, September 15th & 16th  -- with the rest of the festivities taking place all day Saturday and Sunday, the 17th and 18th, from 11 a.m. on.  

The family-friendly fabulous street festival offers hundreds of exhibits and attractions, including:

• Carnival rides and games (open Thursday evening, September 15 and continues all weekend) - from the Wonder Wheel to the new Himalaya, and those classic games of skill and chance.

• Live Entertainment - bands perform on the Midway and in the food court area starting Friday night and continue throughout fair.

• Sports Expo - professional and local sports organizations offer fun and games for all; meet the Islanders’ mascot Sparky, and more!

• Health & Safety Expo - learn from medical professionals, and discover helpful health and wellness tips and services.

• Home Improvement Expo - from landscaping to construction, find the home improvement help you need.

• Food Court - funnel cakes to roasted corn, and everything in between.

• Crafts Expo - more than 150 vendors offering handcrafted treasures; this area is bigger and better than ever!

• Much, much more -- see next week’s installment to learn about the Business Expo, Kids Expo, Animal Zone and Military Expo!

The family-friendly street festival also boasts free admission, free parking, free shuttle bus; pay-one-price wrist bands for carnival rides, and lots of freebies given out by exhibitors and the festival’s famous “strolling characters”!

For more information, contact Martha Verdi, Festival Coordinator at the Festival Hotline 785-3216 or email bellmorefestival@aol.com.

Rain Date: October 15 & 16.

What’s your favorite thing about the annual street festival? Please share it with all of us below!

Be sure to come back here next Tuesday for #68, part 2!  Click here if you missed the previous posts.

What is your favorite thing to do in Bellmore? E-mail me at nhiler@optonline.net.