Arts Below Sunrise festival in Hewlett, Woodmere returns on May 15

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For the first time since 2019, Arts Below Sunrise, a community music and STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts and math] street festival that also includes crafts, entertainment, food trucks and vendors, will take place on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It was canceled in 2020 and last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Along Broadway between the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library at 1125 Broadway in Hewlett to Irving Place in Woodmere what is billed as “the largest outdoor festivals in the Five Towns,” by its organizers will feature antique cars, artists, dancers, demonstrations, games, hands-on educational activities geared for children, live music and science fun.

The car show will show off classic hot rods, custom trucks and exotic bikes along Broadway from Conklin Avenue to Irving Place in Woodmere. There will be community arts projects, including a giant mural that festivalgoers can help paint, and a booth where you can learn to paint in watercolors, and places to create art you can take home.

Janine Torresson, the coach of the Hewlett robotics teams, said the three teams – Bionica, Innovo and Roboboogie – “will be out in full force.” “The teams are so excited to see the whole community and to publicly celebrate their INSPIRE Award win at the 2022 Long Island championship,” Torresson wrote in an email. Team 3540 Roboboogie will be ready to share with everyone all the things they learned and [the] amazing people from 15 different countries whom they met at the world championship in Houston over spring break.”

All three teams will hold a full competition field near the intersection of Johnson Place and Broadway in Woodmere. There will be a scrimmage schedule to explain how the robotic matches are played. Everyone attending the festival will have the opportunity to operate one of the teams’ robots. Look for their colorful pink, purple and yellow tents and Torresson added, “Be on the lookout for BioniCat!, she is back.”

The Cradle of Aviation Museum will have what they call Rotor Copter Craft Fun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 30-minute planetarium shows throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be a live petting zoo, games, raffles arts and crafts and soda bottle rockets.

The Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Endowment Fund and the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library organize Arts Below Sunrise. There are 128 exhibit spots booked, David Friedman, president of the HWBA, wrote in an email.

“The Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Endowment Fund, District 14, HWBA, HW Public Library and other community organizations have been working together for months, after changing this year’s festival from fall to spring,” Friedman stated. “We are ready for Sunday. I’ve been hearing from dozens of residents, who are so excited to Arts Below Sunrise after such a log wait due to the pandemic.”

He noted that there will also be fire department equipment on display, Northwell Health will be on hand to discuss its programs and the Hewlett Lawrence Soccer Club members will put on a demonstration of their skills.

“This is our largest annual community event, bringing thousands of residents and visitors together to celebrate our wonderful students, teachers, businesses and community organizations,” Friedman said.