Festival aims to be a fun day

On any given day, Rockaway Avenue sees its fair share of action, with people from all over Long Island coming to the Valley Stream business district to shop and dine. But this Saturday looks to be one of the most eventful days in the avenue’s history, when it will be the site of the long-awaited Valley Stream Community Fest.

Community leaders have been planning the event for months, and hope to fill Rockaway Avenue with entertainment, food and a great family environment for locals as well as visitors to enjoy.

“For our first year of doing this and for also planning this in about four months, I think the entire committee is happy with the support we’ve received,” said David Sabatino, president of Envision Valley Stream and a member of the festival committee.

The event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Rockaway, between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway, will feature 10 musical acts ranging from rock to hip-hop to classical music. The performances will be staggered throughout the day and take place on a Town of Hempstead “Showmobile” at the corner of Rockaway and Mineola avenues.

The street will be closed from approximately half an hour before the event starts until half an hour after it ends. Festival committee members plan to leave fliers on parking meters starting on Friday night to remind people to move their cars off the street by 10 a.m. Saturday at the latest.

More than 120 vendors are slated to set up shop along the avenue, including businesses headquartered there as well as other shops in Valley Stream and craft and merchandise vendors. Businesses on Rockaway Avenue and Chamber of Commerce members were not charged a fee to set up a table, while businesses outside Valley Stream will pay $35 to $50, depending on the size of their space.

“This event is definitely going to feature a lot of what our community is about, what Rockaway Avenue is about and what we have to offer,” Sabatino said, “and that was the goal.”