Annual Street Festival returns to Bellmore

The sights, sounds and smells of the annual Bellmore Street Festival returned to the community this weekend. In its 34th year, the festival, which includes a carnival and vendor fair, did not take place last year due to Covid restrictions.

“Once we were given the all clear by the governor and county, we messaged all the vendors who had been [at the festival] in the past,” said Debby Izzo, Street Festival coordinator and events chairperson for the Bellmore Chamber. Izzo added many vendors were excited to hear the festival was back, and the response early on was decent and picked up as they got closer to the festival.

Beginning on Sept. 23, the carnival opened during the evening and continued through the end of the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, vendors joined the fair.

Families and festivalgoers came out to support the many local businesses, craft tents and food vendors that took over the parking lots of the Bellmore Train Station, and stretched down the intersection of Bedford and Petite Avenues. Foot traffic was dense as hundreds shopped from booth to booth.

“The police said it was a larger than normal turnout — but it was what they expected,” Izzo said of the crowds. The Bellmore Street Festival was among the first large fall fairs to return to the area this season.

Local businesses that joined the fair included Planet Play, Jam Dance and Fitness Center, Last Minute Details, Urban Farmhouse, and CWC Security, owned by Bellmore Chamber board member, Michael Pittakas.

In addition to businesses, both the Bellmore Memorial Library and North Bellmore Public Library had stands and were out promoting National Library Card Sign Up Month. Bellmore Cub Scout Packs 192 and 580 also had booths.

Patrons were entertained by music groups at the many stages throughout the fair — and also by the Three Ring Circus, that put on daily performances, free of charge to guests. The circus will return to the festival next year, with a brand new, space-themed show, Izzo added. The chamber is “looking forward to having them back.”

“It was definitely one for the books,” Izzo said of the street festival. “We thank all of the vendors and all of the patrons that came.

“Due to the good turnout [at the festival], we’ll be able to do our normal holiday events in normal fashion,” Izzo added.

That includes the Chamber’s Halloween parade, which will take place on Oct. 23 — there is no scheduled rain date as of now. Parade participants will congregate in front of Bellmore Movies on Petite Avenue between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. and proceed down Bedford Avenue, followed by trick or treating down the block and a special “Trunk and Treat.”

Any questions about the Halloween festivities can be sent over email to festival@bellmorechamber.com.