Continuing a 24-year tradition, the annual Williston Park Day Street Fair drew more than 15,000 people to Hillside Avenue on a sunlit day on Sunday afternoon.
Vendors lined the thoroughfare between Willis Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road train station, selling clothes, jewelry, sunglasses, toys, harvest decorations, home decor, home improvement goods and services and much more. Attractions for kids included a karate demonstration by U.S. Tae Kwon Do, a hula hoop contest, rides and games to play for prizes.
“This festival runs on auto-pilot. It’s the entire chamber and community that makes this a wonderful day every year,” said Bobby Shannon, president of the chamber and Reality Roofing, who was there with his son Ryan and his father.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons was the sponsoring organization for the street fair.
In prior years, a U.S. Marine Corps. Color Guard would open the festival, but this year they were deployed overseas.
“It’s a shame, they’re the best people in the world, and they’re in our thoughts and prayers,” Shannon said.
One of the most popular attractions at the fair were the classic sports cars from Corvettes Classic Car Club, which displayed 10 classic cars from different generations dating back to the 1950s. That array included a rare 1958 Panama Yellow Corvette, one of only 455 built, and a 1961 Ford Thunderbird. Trophies were given to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place cars at the festival.
Herricks classic rock band Fatty Arbuckle performed outside of Willy Parkers.
“There is a real sense of pride in Williston Park, that’s why we kept the name Willy Parkers,” Willy Parkers co-owner Lou DeMaria said. “We’re a part of the festival every year. It’s great for business, and brings everyone out together to enjoy themselves.”
Prentiss McNeil and Friends performed in the parking lot adjacent to Memories Bar and Grill.
“We’re thrilled to have them here, every year gets better and better,” said Memories owner Al Oliveira.
Participating in the fair for the 12th year, Memories had a barbecue in its parking lot, which drew a crowd throughout the day. Memories staff members were rotating two large chicken grills outside, which drew crowds in itself.
Frantoni’s Pizza & Restaurant and Harry’s Hilltop Deli had large tables of food for everyone to enjoy. Harry’s Hilltop Deli had more than 20 pans of food to choose from.
“This is the best day of the year, we love this festival,” owner Harry Hadjicharalambous said.
The East Williston Fire Department also had a barbecue set up, where department Chief Patrick Theodore helped serve hotdogs and hamburgers.
“I’ve been with the fire department for 19 years, and we’ve participated every year,” Theodore said. “It’s a great thing for the community.”
The Williston Park Fire Department also had a booth set up to sell T-shirts for Nassau County Fire Fighter’s Operation Wounded Warrior.
Lucy Gaglione, a firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Williston volunteers was manning the booth, which displayed a photo collage of previous efforts by the fire department to help wounded warriors on an annual trip to visit wounded service veterans in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
“Our organization started eight years ago, we do a number of fundraisers every year, and we’re just happy to be here at the festival to help our wounded warriors,” Gaglione said.
Members of VFW Post 1688 and American Legion Post 144 were selling Buddy Poppys, as part of the VFW Buddy Poppy Program which dated back to Memorial Day 1922.
Sun Wise, a campaign sponsored by the Rotary Club of Williston Park, had a booth set up as well. Inspired by Bobby Shannon’s mother Diana, who died in 2005 of melanoma skin cancer, the campaign is dedicated to spreading awareness and stopping skin cancer in the Willistons. The booth also distributed information about the CCMAC (Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign), which was formed in 1998 after the death of Colette Marie Brigid Coyne from melanoma.
Pet lovers had a chance to meet Dr. Elizabeth Hardoon and Guillermo Martinez of the Williston Park Animal Hospital, opening its doors in a few weeks at 7 Hillside Ave. Participating in the fair for the first time, they provided information on their use of the latest diagnostics to get pets home from treatment as soon as possible.
Nancy Zolezzi, president of the Williston Park Rotary Club, had a booth at the fair for Albert Zolezzi, Inc., the autobody and collision repair she and her husband operate.
“I ran the festival for 25 years, and its wonderful to still be a part of it,” Zolezzi said.
Friends of the Williston Park Library had a booth set up, where overloaded books of all genres were being sold.
“We’re making room for new books, and all the money we collect will go towards improvements in the library that is not funded by the Village,” said Elenore Paris, one of the Friends’ members.
State Senator Jack Martins, running a re-election campaign, and Frank Scaturro, a Conservative Party nominee in the 4th Congressional District race, were also in attendance. Both graduates from Chaminade High School, they equally praised the fair for its impact on the community’s well being.
“It’s great for every facet of the community, from the fire department to the cub scouts, everyone is a winner here,” Senator Martins said.
“You can’t beat the weather today, and how great this festival is for small business,” Scaturro said.
