Thousands find fun at Bellmore street festival

Bedford and Pettit avenues were filled with Long Islanders looking for fun at the 28th annual Bellmore Family Street Festival last weekend.

The festival, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, began last Thursday evening with the opening of the carnival in the Long Island Rail Road station parking lots near downtown Bellmore. Thousands gathered to board the rides and play games for four nights, in addition to checking out expos and activities around the festival on Saturday and Sunday.

The fall extravaganza featured more than 250 exhibits and attractions in a 25-square-block area, according to the chamber. President Debby Izzo explained that it is the largest family fair on Long Island, allowing the chamber to show off what Bellmore has to offer.

“We want everyone to come back to our wonderful small town and stop into our shops,” she said. “There are a number of terrific mom-and-pop shops within Bellmore village, and we continually promote and support the shop-local campaign in Nassau County."

Izzo noted that there were activities that festival-goers of all ages could enjoy. Children reveled at the Kids Expo, which featured a portable bowling lane, an interactive exhibit from the Cradle of Aviation and an animated shark from the Riverhead Aquarium. Meanwhile, adults checked out musical performances, hundreds of vendor booths and crafts, and military, business, sports health and wellness, and home improvement expos. And everyone could enjoy sweet treats and other festival foods on sale throughout the weekend.

The next chamber event in downtown Bellmore is the annual Halloween Parade on Oct. 25.