Street festival coming

For one day each October, Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven becomes the site of a celebration.
The Woodhaven Street Festival, a 26-year-old event run by the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation (GWDC), has grown since it began in 1982, when it was a five-block arts-and-crafts fair.
The 2007 Festival, coming to town Sunday, October 14, stretches 10 blocks, from 80th Street to Woodhaven Boulevard, and features much more than arts-and-crafts.
&#8220We have music, entertainment, and more venders,” said Maria Thompson, Executive Director of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District (BID), which sponsors and helps organize the event for GWDC. &#8220There will be a karate demonstration, and even dragon dancers.”
The karate and dragon dancers, explained Thompson, are new aspects of the Festival implemented to reflect the rapidly changing Woodhaven community.
&#8220We've had a huge influx of many different cultures, but especially the Asian culture,” said Thompson. &#8220We want our festival to reflect our community. The flavor is there.”
Woodhaven's eclectic population is also reflected in the festival's food selection, which includes samples from across the world.
&#8220You can't get away from the Italian sausages, the Thai food, the Chinese food,” said Thompson. &#8220We've got everything.”
In addition to country music on the main stage, a doo-wop group, and Jia-Yi-He, a harmonica player and Woodhaven resident, Thompson said she hopes to secure a local radio station to appear live at the event.
The 2007 Woodhaven Street Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Thompson at the Woodhaven BID (718-805-0202).