Despite the rainy forecast, throngs of visitors flocked to the annual Myrtle Avenue Street Festival, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Glendale, on Sunday, Aug. 4.
The festival, which spanned from Fresh Pond Road to Forest Avenue, featured food vendors selling fair staples like funnel cakes and smoky sausage-and-pepper and Latin American fare like arepas and tacos. A slew of bouncy castles entertained the kids, and local businesses and merchants sold handmade crafts, clothing, decor, toys and more.
QNS caught up with Glendale Kiwanis members Steve Hansen, Teresa Donahue, Kerrie Hansen and Joseph Aiello while strolling along Myrtle Avenue.
Aiello, who organized the festival, told QNS that the event was a “great way” to give back to the community.
“We’ve been doing this for over 20 years. It’s very successful,” Aiello said. “It’s great for the community; it brings everybody out. This is one of the best fairs we do, and whatever income comes in, it goes right out to the community.”
The FDNY educated the public about fire safety and prevention, handing out coloring books and firefighter hats for the kids, while the NYPD Domestic Violence unit with 104th Precinct gave out brochures about domestic violence safety planning.
Many different vendors were on hand at the event. Mark J. Forde, also known as “The Ginger Shot Man,” sold his healthy brew of cold-pressed Ginger shots. Fiwi Food Ja brought the flavor of the Caribbean to the fair, selling authentic Jamaican food, including freshly grilled jerk chicken. Kidz Haven Daycare offered face painting.
Katherine Feliz, who opened the daycare on Cypress Street in February, loves street fairs and shared that the fair was an excellent opportunity to meet the community and other vendors.
“Anytime that there’s a fair, I like [to visit],” Feliz told QNS. “I’m here promoting the daycare because I want to expand, but more importantly, to get a survey of the community to get an idea of where a commercial space is needed that offers child care for zero to [12-year-olds].”
Glendale resident Chico enjoyed the sights and smells of the fair with his wife and 1-year-old daughter and appreciated the “goodies” the vendors offered.
“I love [street fairs],” Chico expressed. “I really do love them. You don’t really need a lot of money to actually have a good time. And you have a good time with the family.”
The next festivity hosted by the Glendale Kiwanis, which has been serving the community for 71 years, will be Community Day at Atlas Park in Glendale on Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.
