Park Slope's 'A Taste Of Fifth' Canceled Over Coronavirus Caution

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The latest coronavirus-related cancelation hits Brooklynites square in the stomach.

Park Slope's "A Taste Of Fifth" food festival will be canceled, announced the Fifth Avenue Park Slope Business Improvement District on Thursday.

Mark Caserta, the BID's executive director, said organizers increasingly grew wary of gathering a large group of people together for the planned April 1 charity event. He said it didn't seem like a good idea as COVID-19 spreads across the city.

It seems organizers weren't the only ones concerned.

"The ticket sales have been slow this year because people have been concerned," Caserta said.

Fears over further spreading coronavirus have prompted organizers for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, The New York City Half Marathon and other events, institutions and schools to cancel or close.

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently said life in New York City might not return to normal until September.

It's likely to be a tough time for charities, Caserta said. "A Taste Of Fifth" — beyond being a gathering of 40 eateries from Park Slope's Fifth Avenue — is at heart a charity event in which $20 of every $60 ticket would go toward charity.

Caserta said the fundraising will continue. Ticket holders will be refunded, though they will still be asked to donate $20 to a charity of their choice.

In addition, the BID also set up a donation page to continue fundraising.

"We’re going to run that through April 1 as if the event was going on," Caserta said. "Our message is during times of crisis the small local charities are the hardest hit and need the money most."

The charity with the most donations will receive an extra $500 from the BID, Caserta said.

Restaurants, bars and other local businesses also need support, Caserta said. He said the coronavirus may have prompted the food festival's cancelation, but local eateries are still open and can be patronized safely.

BID staff recently went out to eat and took some doctor-approved precaution, Caserta said.

"We brought hand sanitizer," he said with a chuckle.

More information about the cancelation and further donations can be found here.