Fun and frolicking at Oceanside Fam Fest

Though the festivities had to be moved indoors because of bad weather, it did not deter more than 200 residents from showing up to the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Fam Fest event on Oct. 13.

The outing was moved to the Castleton Academy High School gymnasium, but Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Adam Kritzberg said it was a fun time for all.

“Everybody had a wonderful time,” he said. “It worked out nicely.” Kritzberg and chamber director Ed Scharfberg organized the event.

Fam Fest was a showcase for local businesses and provided activities for the entire family. Dee’s Nursery lent pumpkins and bales of hay as decorations to provide an autumnal theme, and there was a food truck stationed outside to serve meals for attendees.

About 40 vendors were at the fair, displaying their businesses, including Breathe N Flow Yoga, the To The Stage performance arts studio and the Shaolin Self-Defense Center, which had students put on a martial arts and karate display. Businesses also handed out goodies and there was face painting and games for children to play.

The event was attended by elected officials and members of the Oceanside Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the Kiwanis Club and representatives of South Nassau Communities Hospital, among others. The Oceanside Fire Department also gave fire hats to children and went over safety rules with them.

“The purpose was to bring more businesses to chamber members and let everybody know what’s in town,” former Chamber of Commerce President Maria Heller said. “People really got a broader view of what businesses we have in Oceanside.”