Nassau County's largest family festival (with more than 120,000 attendees) will include 25 square blocks of "good, old-fashioned American family fun," which will include an unbelievable array of sights, sounds, tastes and activities on Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25.
Admission is always free, and there are more than 120 activities and attractions for families to enjoy together. The chamber's full-color Festival Guide, extra copies of which will be available at our chamber booth and at our Business Expo, or which can be printed from our Web site (www.bellmorechamber.com ), is a great source to use so that you can attend all of the festival's events. Our attractions are ongoing, and many will repeat so that families won't miss any of the excitement. Visitors to this year's festival can look forward to something that is sure to please every family member.
New this year, Alpine Bob and the double Ferris wheel will be in the midway section of our carnival, presented by Blue Sky Amusement & Entertainment Ltd. Come and experience the most exciting, thrilling rides and clean family games of chance for all ages. The Wonder Wheel (Ferris wheel) has been seen on midways for decades, and always an all-time favorite, with repeat riders waiting for that classic thrill of seeing the whole midway. The Alpine Bob is one of the larger attractions in the midway and is currently the only one of its kind in New York state. The Alpine Bob whisks riders up and down and around in its free-swinging tubs. At night, the ride comes to life with its computer-controlled light show and disco-light effects.
For those who want to enjoy carnival rides at a bargain price, they can attend the fair after 6 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and take advantage of our unbelievable pay-one-price deal. Please be sure to pick up your discount coupons at participating merchants who display the fair poster in their windows. Additionally, on Saturday and Sunday, there will be special smaller kiddy rides in our Kids Expo, with a $10 pay-one-price bargain just for children under 10 years old.
Our Craft & Collectible Fair is back by popular demand. Sponsored by Citibank, this year's crafts fair features an impressive array of quality handi-craft vendors in one marketplace. Visitors can look forward to a wonderful shopping opportunity, featuring hand-made jewelry, hand-painted clothing, wood-crafted items, lawn ornaments, and unique gifts and treasures. The crafts fair will feature more than 120 vendors.
Returning to our festival again this year, through the sponsorship of Island Greenery, is our "Animal Zone." This terrific area is chock full of wonderful information about the adoption, training, health and safety of your pets. Come and meet Rotweilers, Labradors and golden retrievers.
The Kids Expo, sponsored by the Ridgewood Savings Bank, has become one of the more popular attractions, because it is geared to children under 10. It's all hands-on, and the kids are intrigued with the varied activities. This wonderful educational and stimulating area will feature kid-sized rides, a petting zoo, pony and horse rides, pasta picture frame-making, jewelry-making, interactive sing-a-longs, and art, sandy candy, spin art, cookie decorating, cartoon photos and play dough fun. The children will really get a kick out of rocking and rolling while exercising with Susan and Wendy and singing and laughing along with Bruce Katz. Also, come and take a step back in time and meet Jerry Marren, one of the original Wizard of Oz Munchkins from the 1939 film. Jerry will greet visitors at the entrance to our Kids Expo. Also, we're sure you won't want to miss the Long Island Children's Museum, featuring amazing fun things to do and see for our children.
Our Health & Safety Expo, proudly sponsored by Allied Medical Rehabilitation and ABSolutely Fit, is an informative and educational display featuring the best of the fire departments, police, and EMS, along with Long Island Blood Services. Also, come meet Jared, the Subway spokesman, who will teach us about how to eat healthy.
Help your neighbors by donating a pint of blood at this year's festival. To make your appointment, please contact our coordinator, Sandy Johnson, at (516) 409-1120. The bloodmobile will be on Broadway, east of Bedford Avenue.
The Showmobile is booked with non-stop entertainment from morning to night. We have music to suit everyone's tastes, including country, rock and Broadway tunes. Subway, located on Merrick Road in Bellmore, proudly sponsors the fabulous array of music this year. There's plenty of seating, and festival-goers can enjoy sitting a spell and listening to the ongoing music .
Thanks to the sponsorship of Income Tax Plus, the Sports Expo will feature representation from professional and local sports organizations, complete with interactive fun and plenty of giveaways. Come meet and greet your favorite sports mascots, including "Sparky" from the New York Islanders and Quacker Jack from the Long Island Ducks. There will also be plenty of giveaways .
Our Information & Technology Expo, proudly sponsored by Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, is sure to take visitors on a special journey. It will feature the latest in technology, from Verizon FiOS through demonstrations of hardware, software and electronic equipment.
The expanded Military Expo, sponsored by Faux de Lis, Polara Jewelers and Have You Heard?,Inc., is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Come and see the awesome helicopter from the Veterans of the Vietnam War, climb aboard the Air Force van and play Nintendo games. Visit the 26-foot submarine and take a climb on the rock wall, plus many cool artifacts and information.
Another wonderful attraction this year is "Dragon Scales and Fairy Tales," a live production weaving a little fairy magic into the audience. This will be performed in the midway area of the carnival from Friday evening through Sunday, and is sure to please young and old alike.
Also returning to our festival this year is our ever-popular Kids-Pix, which is sponsored by Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg through the Nassau County Police Department. It's a wonderful opportunity to have your child's ID photo taken for free. While you're at it, why not have your child's fingerprints taken at the U.S. Customs booth, directly across from the Kids Pix booth.
Enhancing our festival are the main street displays of antique fire engines, compliments of our local firefighters, Nassau County Police Department exhibits, along with other participatory events that will interest every age group.
Thanks to the Roslyn Savings Bank for sponsoring the free shuttle bus. Fair visitors can take the shuttle from the Merrick train station's easternmost parking field every 10 minutes and enjoy the ride, as well as hassle-free parking.
The perfect family-oriented festival would not be complete without something to please every appetite, from old favorites like pizza, hot dogs and curly fries, to souvlaki, gyros, roasted corn, funnel cakes and hot, hand-made soft pretzels.
Thanks to the Dime Savings Bank, a comfortable visitor-friendly festival environment will be provided. There are plenty of porta-potties and garbage receptacles throughout the fair , as well as changing tables at the Kids Expo.
For more information, call the Festival Hotline at (516) 679-1875.
