A decades-old street festival on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood is set to return this September, according to an event flyer shared by the Federazione Italo-Americana di Brooklyn and Queens, Inc.
The festival will take place from Thursday, Sep. 5, to Saturday, Sep. 7, from 6-11 p.m., and on Sunday, Sep. 8, from 3-10 p.m.
The Fresh Pond Road Street Festival is an annual event that brings music, food and entertainment to Ridgewood. It spans a five-block stretch of Fresh Pond Road, from Woodbine to Menahan Street.
Festival organizers have faced challenges in recent years, as some residents have criticized the event for causing parking constraints and detouring MTA buses onto nearby residential streets.
During a Community Board 5 meeting in February, the festival was a topic of discussion, sparking tension among participants. The CB5 Executive Committee opposed the four-day format and recommended shortening the event to three days. The board ultimately voted in favor of this recommendation, limiting the festival to Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Despite the pushback, the festival will continue to occupy its traditional space in Ridgewood, maintaining its presence in the community.
