Fun for One and All Up and Down The Boardwalk
The Town of North Hempstead held its Annual Beach Fest last week on the boardwalk of North Hempstead Beach, formerly known as Bar Beach. Although the weather was overcast and damp, it didn’t deter the many folks with and without children eager to participate in the many fun free events.
The first booth most folks encountered, as they arrived, was Erik’s Reptile Adventures and it certainly was an adventure!
Erik opened with a huge yellow snake named “Twinkie” that he passed around for one and all to touch. Granted, “Twinkie” was very soft, but more than a little unsettling to touch. However, some brave souls even wrapped her (it was a female) around their necks.
The next reptile he brought out was an alligator that proceeded to open his wide mouth and show off his very lethal teeth. For this demonstration he put him on the ground and fed him a frozen rat. Certainly not the most appealing sight, but some of the spectators were delighted as he gobbled up his prey.
On the boardwalk many of the children were lined-up waiting anxiously for the “Little Red Caboose” which piled in lots of kids and drove them up and down the boardwalk the entire day. It was fun for so many little ones.
At the town bandshell endless music groups came and went after providing lots of great music for singing or in some cases dancing.
The sandcastle builder was stationed in the center of the beach madly producing his newest creation; this year a mermaid and dolphins. It was very clever and beautiful. This kind of sand sculpting takes hours and hours to perfect and get just right and then he carves the logo of the Town of North Hempstead in the side of the entire project.
There was face-painting, painting for future artists, kite flying, circle drumming and lots more fun-filled booths for one and all.
The entire event was under the direction of the Town of North Hempstead in conjunction with the Town’s Business and Tourism Development Corporation, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the generous sponsors including Wells Fargo Bank, Roslyn Savings Bank, Signature Bank, Capital One Bank, Panera Bread, Kiss Products, Optimum and the Roslyn Claremont Hotel.
