The opportunity to stroll along a traffic-free Myrtle Avenue is a rare treat that arrives just a few times yearly. On Sunday, Apr. 21, throngs of Myrtle Avenue Spring Festival attendees seized the moment, fully immersing themselves in the festivities.
Over 200 merchants lined the streets on Myrtle Avenue, from Forest Avenue to Wyckoff Avenue, offering various products and food to purchase. The Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District, on behalf of businesses along the avenue, sponsors the annual event with additional program support from the Ridgewood Local Development Corporations.
The festival featured a diverse lineup of local merchants, including some well-known faces from the area. They offered unique experiences, such as exclusive previews of classic cars showcased by the East Coast Car and Riviera Owners Association.
Many devoted Myrtle Avenue fair attendees agree the fair wouldn’t be complete without Joe Fuoco’s Music Center, and the store’s owners, Joe and Jeanette, did not disappoint. The 71st Avenue Plaza became an intimate concert, and listeners understood why Fuoco’s been in the music business for decades.
One stand-out participant of this year’s festival was the Classic Riders, a Puerto Rican Schwinn bike club devoted to riding and maintaining classic Schwinn Sting-Ray bikes. Members of the club had their bikes on full display in pristine condition.
Additional larger attractions at the fair gathered the interests of children and adults alike. The Queens Public Library’s Mobile Library Station, situated next to the Friends of Ridgewood Library, provided fair-goers with a special look inside a bus full of books and free potential reading material.
E&J Cards and Gifts store also returned to Myrtle Avenue, offering a selection of Hallmark and seasonal goods for purchase. The beloved shop closed officially in February, but the store owners and staff kept true to their promise to return to the avenue’s street festivals.
Besides the retail goods, food was a big part of the festival and its delicious smells tempted many. Ridgewood’s diverse food options attracted massive crowds and only added to the motivation to visit Myrtle Avenue.
Myrtle Avenue visitors can also expect other upcoming community events, such as a Mother’s Day Sidewalk Sale lasting from Thursday, May 9, to Sunday, May 12. Ridgewood Farmstand, one of the longest-running farms where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold, will also return on Saturday, July 6.
