The Mineola Chamber of Commerce promises a day of “family fun” at its annual street fair.
The fair, held Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will be located on Jericho Turnpike between Mineola Boulevard and Willis Avenue. Live music, entertainment and food by local restaurants and food trucks will be placed along the street. Family-fun attractions will be on the street all day, along with a classic car show and a celebrity dunk tank.
Tony Lubrano, head of the Mineola Street Fair committee and past president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, said this event will be community-oriented with many happenings that will get the community involved. Some of the events include a performance by the American Theater Dance Workshop at 11 a.m., a show by Taecole Tai Kuando at 11:20 a.m., a pancake eating contest sponsored by the Mineola Diner at 11:40 a.m., grand ceremony at 12:30 a.m., baby crawling contest at 1:20 p.m., a meatball eating contest at 1:40 p.m. sponsored by Spaghettini, a taco eating contest at 3:10 p.m. sponsored by Right Coast Taqueria and much more, including performances by local singers.
Lubrano said the chamber is still looking for more participants in the challenges at the fair. He said to apply email TonyLubrano@gmail.com
“What makes our street fair so different than any other is most street fairs are just focused on providing vendors on the street,” Lubrano said. “We look at it more like a community event and we try to do things that will give people a reason not to just walk the footprint of the fair and then go home.”
Lubrano said there will be two showmobiles with different bands playing all day long. At 11 a.m., Calliope Wren will perform, then Original Gossip at noon. Following them will be the Tony Santos Band at 1 p.m. After them is Fuzz at 2 p.m., School of Rock at 3 p.m. and Sammy Louis Band at 4 p.m.
The North Shore Animal League will be bringing animals that are up for adoption on the showmobile as well.
Ardito’s Italian American Deli will return to the fair again this year, with chairs and tables set up so attendees can sit down while eating some of their deli foods. The Irish American Center will also be one of the dozens of food vendors at the fair.
“They put up a huge tent and they have Irish music playing, step-dancers, food and Guinness available all day,” Lubrano said.
There will be a designated food court by Dunkin’ Donuts where many of these food vendors will be located.
“The Village of Mineola, Paul Pereira and the trustees have always been involved and very supportive of this event,” Lubrano said. “They’re going to provide us with tables and chairs. They’re going to have the Public Works Department — in addition to doing all the sanitation, clean up and road closings that morning — they’re also going to bring out tables and chairs so that people have a place to sit and eat in that food truck area.”
Vendors can sign up at MineolaChamber.com. The rain date for the street fair is on Oct. 13.
