More than 50,000 people are expected to crowd the streets of Middle Neck Road between Fairview Avenue and Hicks Lane on May 4 for the 36th annual Village of Great Neck Street Fair.
The event has attracted hundreds of local food and crafts vendors, as well as tens of thousands of people, according to Village of Great Neck Deputy Mayor Mitchell Beckermann, who is overseeing.
“It’s just a really fun day,” Beckermann said. “It’s a great day for neighbors to meet neighbors.”
The fair will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Beckermann said.
The event has been coordinated since 1992 by Smithtown-based Showtiques Inc., which works to book food and craft vendors for the fair.
Jen Wood, vice president of Showtiques, said vendors from as far as Virginia have signed up to participate in the fair on Sunday.
Wood said the company is looking to support small businesses.
“What we’re looking for is a shopping and entertainment experience that people can’t find at the mall.”
Wood said vendors can continue to sign up for the fair up until the morning of the event.
Beckermann said the event used to be run by the now non-existent Old Village Chamber of Commerce.
“After the chamber ended, the village took it over,” Beckermann said.
The fair is opened to everybody, Beckermann said, and is promoted as the “best attended one day event on Long Island.”
Admission to the fair is free.
Attendees will have the chance to taste food from local restaurants and buy products from craft vendors.
Although the fair will be held rain or shine, Beckermann said the he expects the fair’s streak of good weather to continue.
“It’s going to be a beautiful sunny day,” he said.
The fair will also feature a petting zoo and pony rides, sponsored by the Village of Great Neck.
The Great Neck Park District also donates the use of a rock climbing wall and allows the village to use the Village Green Park, located on Middle Neck and Beach roads.
“It’s a lot of fun and we look forward to it every year,” park district Superintendent Peter Rennick said.
The park district also places picnic tables on the Village Green, where residents are able to sit down during the fair.
“It’s just a great community time,” Beckermann said.
For additional information, visit showtiques.com
