Thousands of people from throughout Queens flocked to the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation’s 33rd annual fall street festival Sunday, when colorful children’s rides, civic groups and vendors selling everything from corn on the cob to cotton candy lined Jamaica Avenue for the ever popular event.
Known as the Wonderful Woodhaven Street Festival, the event aims to draw the community together for hours of music, food and more. The festivities have grown exponentially over the years, with the first street fair – a small arts and crafts events with no stores or shops participating – covering just five blocks.
On Sunday, the festival stretched 10 blocks, from Woodhaven Boulevard to 80th Street, with many of the Jamaica Avenue shops and restaurants involved. There were numerous rides for children and families – including a carousel, antique cars, and the tried-and-true festival fare of zeppoles and sausages.
A number of area civic groups distributed information about their organizations that work to improve residents’ lives, including the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the Howard Beach-based New York Families for Autistic Children.
Story and Photos by Anna Gustafson
-
- Pebbles, left, and Tiyanna Spencer, 1, enjoy the cotton candy that was plentiful at the festivities.
-
- The Solid State Band, which hails from Woodhaven, performed festival goers with many a catchy tune.
-
- All kinds of food were available, from sausages to empanadas and corn on the cob.
-
- Christine, left, and Owen, 4, Branigan, of Woodhaven, show off Owen’s jack o’lantern face painting.
-
- Members of the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps fielded questions from residents about their organization that has long served the community.
-
- Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association members Martin Colberg, left, Giedra Kregzdys, and Steve Forte sold shirts emblazoned with the neighborhood’s zip code on the front to support their civic group.
-
- Mike Brothers, left, and Frank Scafo, of the New York Families for Autistic Children, talk to residents about their organization. NYFAC works with children with autism and their families from throughout Queens – and beyond. NYFAC board of directors members also held a raffle at their booth to help raise money for the nonprofit, and the winner landed a $500 prize.
-
- Elliott, 8, left; Jada, 9; and Jackie Ortiz, all of Woodhaven, show off the goodies they won at the fair.
-
- Many colorful rides lined Jamaica Avenue on Sunday.
-
- Plastic Soul, a Woodhaven-based band, entertained the crowds with classic rock and roll tunes.
-
- Children lined up by the dozen to fly down a number of inflatable slides at the festival.
-
- Members of the Nueva Esperanza church in Woodhaven drew many a laughing resident with their sign for “free hugs.”
