The Mineola Street Fair’s move to Jericho Turnpike, a bold transition, paid off Sunday, Sept. 13 with swaths of fairgoers cramming booths and vendors from Mineola Boulevard past Willis Avenue. The fair relocated this year from the downtown area just north of the Mineola Long Island Rail Road Station.

For Mineola Chamber of Commerce President Tony Lubrano, much like when the fair moved from Memorial Park to the downtown in 2011, the inaugural romp on the turnpike was a trial-by-fire.

For more photos, click here.

“This year was by the far the hardest because we weren’t sure what the exact footprint of the fair would be like,” Lubrano said. “We learned a lot. We’re extremely pleased.”

The fair showcased four venues, including a stage sponsored by the Irish American Society on Willi Avenue, this year with more than two-dozen talent acts including music, comedy and dance.

“We’re probably the only one on Long Island that has this much up-and-coming talent at a fair to perform,” said past chamber president Ray Sikorksi.

Vendor Coordinator Linda Doerbecker has been involved with the fair’s planning since 1990. While the fair that called the park home was a solid draw, she sees the reach the turnpike can make.

“This is a much bigger fair for Mineola,” said Doerbecker. “The park fair was great, but this one shows how far it’s come.”

Of the 165 vendors that sprawled the fair this year, a bustling spot was Portuguese dessertery Costa Nova Waffle, which is set to open at the end of September near Winthrop-University Hospital.

“This fair is great every year,” Mary Soot of Roslyn said. “This food at [Costa Nova] is a great dessert. I plan to go there when it opens.”

Mayor Scott Strauss served as the dunk-tank victim for the second straight year.

“We had a huge venue from downtown move up to Jericho Turnpike,” Strauss said. “There’s plenty to see.”