Annual Embrace Winter Festival warms Third

Ridgeites ventured out and braved the cold to take part in the third annual Embrace Winter Festival on Saturday, February 21.

The festival, hosted by the Bay Ridge Arts and Cultural Alliance, featured music, dancing, food, crafts and games at neighborhood locales along Third Avenue between 69th and 75th Streets.

Among the businesses and organizations that joined in the festivities were Circles Café, the Ridge Creative Center, Vesuvio, the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Scandinavian East Coast Museum, Yellow Hook, Cosentino’s and the Regina Opera Company.

From noon to 4 p.m. that Saturday, nearly 200 people traveled along the avenue to partake in and enjoy the various activities hosted by the neighborhood hot spots. The “tourists” were given passports at Circles Café and could have them stamped at participating restaurants and stands. For getting passports stamped, traveling Ridgeites could get free pizza from Vesuvio and other goodies.

“After January, people just want to have fun. We’re all cooped up in the winter with the cold and it’s nice to get out,” said Victoria Hofmo, the president of BRACA.

“It shows that we support each other in the community, the cultural groups and the businesses,” she continued. “It’s a fun event; everybody contributes and sees what the community has to offer.”

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