'Sweet' Family Street Festival rescheduled

The 23rd annual Bellmore Family Street Festival, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, was originally scheduled for Oct. 17-18, but had to be rescheduled because of the threat of rain. The fair, touted as Nassau County's largest family festival, is now set for this weekend, Oct. 24-25.

With this year's theme, "Sweet Dreams: Filled with Spice and Everything Nice," the festival will take place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station and along Bedford Avenue, with carnival rides every evening.

The festivities will begin on Thursday evening, with a huge array of carnival rides and game booths in the midway, featuring thrilling rides and clean family games of chance for all ages.

Once again this year, the chamber is offering pay-one-price for rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. until closing, plus a $12 pay-one-price on all children's rides in the Kids Expo on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, the pay-one-price is available from 11 a.m. through closing.

Highlights of this year's festival include:

• "It's A Big Big World," a 30-minute multi-cultural extravaganza. A witty narrator puppet guides visitors on an imaginary tour around the world, visiting 12 countries. Each is an extraordinary adventure, combining cultural music with whimsical narration and enchanting puppet characters. Shows continue though Sunday evening, so check your festival guide for scheduled appearances.

• On Friday evening, the rides will continue, and the Town of Hempstead Showmobile in the Long Island Rail Road parking lot off Pettit Avenue in the midway will offer a long line-up of entertainment, including Jerry Brown "The Monkey Man." Brown is an accomplished juggler, magician, mime/clown, musician, fire-eater, animal trainer, stilt-walker and storyteller. This not-to-be-missed, multi-talented showman has been dazzling audiences, young and old, throughout the U.S. for 30 years. His performances are a delight, and his monkey pal, Django, will steal the show. Brown will perform two shows on Saturday and Sunday in the Kids Expo.

• Also returning this year will be the chamber's Character Parade, stepping off at noon from the north end of town on Saturday and Sunday. See favorite characters, including pirates, animals, lions, tigers and elephants, as well as dancers from the "Sugarland Express" as they prance and flit down Bedford Avenue.

• Many local musical talents will also perform at the showmobile starting Friday evening.

For more information, call the chamber's festival hotline at (516) 679-1875 or e-mail BellmoreCC@aol.com.