L.B. Chamber to hold street fair Sept. 7-8

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce will hold its second street fair on Sept. 7 and 8, part of an effort to attract visitors to the city and help local businesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The first event was held July 20-21 on the Superblock, and attracted thousands of people in what chamber Executive Vice President Mark Tannenbaum called an “overwhelming success.”

The street fairs are being produced by the chamber and Nassau County Craft Shows, which organizes similar events at Eisenhower Park and Garden City. The only food vendors permitted, according to the chamber, will be those from the barrier island and Island Park. Retail, craft fair and other businesses that do not compete with local merchants will be able to participate if booths are available.

The street fair will again feature retail and food vendors, live music organized by Artists in Partnership Inc. and games for kids. However, it will now include the 34th annual Long Island Arm Wrestling Championships, presented by the New York Arm Wrestling Association, on Sept. 8.

“We will have the competition, and it will allow novice arm wrestlers to compete in early rounds without having to pay a fee,” Tannenbaum said.

Tannenbaum also said that the city’s food truck court, “The Shoregasboard,” will remain open for an additional weekend and will again be a part of the event.

“They’re going to be part of the fair, and we’re going to expand the food court with a few things that won’t compete with them,” he said.

Tannenbaum also said that the street fair, held on the Superblock between Riverside and Long Beach boulevards, is expanding to include Riverside Boulevard to Broadway to accommodate additional booths.

“The turnout last time was better than we expected, we had an overwhelming success — we had 132 booths and we turned away 39,” Tannenbaum said. “There will be a bigger variety than the last time, and I believe there will be considerably more local merchants involved in it now that the summer is over.”

Visit www.thelongbeachchamber.com for more information.